3A10.

40 Variable g Pendulum
Abstract
A variable g pendulum, where g is the acceleration due to gravity, is a pendulum that consists of a mass
attached rigidly to an axis whose inclination angle can be varied. The result is an effective value of g for the
pendulum which is dependent on the inclination angle of the rotation axis. When the rotation axis is horizontal, the
effective value for gravity is simply g, and when the axis is vertical, the effective value is zero and the pendulum
does not oscillate at all. This apparatus can be used to show that the period of oscillation of a pendulum is
inversely effected by a change in g.

Picture

Safety Concerns
None.

Equipment
Variable g apparatus

stopwatch

Procedure
Set the rotation axis to horizontal (360 degrees) by loosening the wing-nut on the side of the support rod to
rotate the axis. Using the level attached, make sure the axis is horizontal by adjusting the leveling screws on the
1

base of the apparatus. Push the mass slightly out to one side then let go to allow it to oscillate. Make sure the
displacement angle doesnt exceed about 15 degrees, since the equation for the period is an approximation that
is valid for small angles only. Using the stopwatch, time about 5 to 10 oscillations, since this is easier than timing
a single oscillation. Decrease the angle so that the rotation axis is steeper. Time the same number of oscillations
and observe that the period increases as the effective value of g decreases.
The protractor attached to the apparatus for measuring the inclination angle can be adjusted by loosening the
screw in the top of the support rod. If the rotation axis cannot be made level at 360 degrees by only adjusting
the leveling screws, then the protractor itself may be mis-aligned and will need adjusting.

Theory
The variable g pendulum is a variation of the simple pendulum, so a logical place to begin is with the theory
of the simple pendulum. Figure 1 shows a simple pendulum in its equilibrium position. Note that the force of
gravity, mg, where m is the mass of the pendulum, is acting downwards parallel to the arm of the pendulum.
Figure 2 shows the forces acting on the pendulum while it is in motion. The motion is due entirely to a
restoring force. In the case of the simple pendulum, the restoring force is the component of the force of gravity
that acts parallel to the direction of motion. The restoring force for the simple pendulum, Fsimple , is
Fsimple = mg sin

(1)

where is the angular displacement of the pendulum from its equilibrium position. Note that the angular
displacement, and the position of the pendulum are defined to be positive when to the right of the equilibrium
point. Equation 1 has a negative sign because when the angle is positive the force is acting in the negative
direction, and when the angle is negative the force is acting in the positive direction.
A variable g pendulum differs from a simple pendulum in that the support for the pendulum can be tilted.
This characteristic combined with the rigidity of the arm allows the pendulum to rotate in a different plane. This
rotation changes the restoring force, therefore a correction must be made to Equation 1. Figure 3 shows a variable
g pendulum that has been tilted by an angle and is still at its equilibrium position. Recall that for the simple
pendulum the force of gravity acted parallel to the pendulums arm. In the case of the variable g pendulum this
force is but a component of the total force of gravity and is referred to as Fg,ef f for the effective force of gravity.
The effective force of gravity is given by the expression,
Fg,ef f = mg cos .

(2)

A correction can be made to the restoring force of the simple pendulum, Equation 1, by replacing mg with
Fg,ef f , Equation 2. The result is an expression for the restoring force of the variable g pendulum, Fvar , which is
Fvar = mg cos sin .

(3)

By applying the small angle approximation, which states that for a small angle
sin ,

(4)

Fvar = mg cos .

(5)

x = L,

(6)

to Equation 3 it can be written as

The arc length theorem states that
where x is the arc length or displacement of the pendulum and L is the length of the pendulum (L = 0.258m
+/- 0.025 m for this apparatus). Using this, can be eliminated and Equation 5 rewritten as
Fvar =

mg cos
x.
L

(7)

The motion of the pendulum can also be defined by the differential form of Newtons second law, which states
thateds the density of water.
d2 x
Fvar = ma = 2 ,
(8)
dt
2

m
Fsimple

Figure 1: Diagram of a rigid

pendulum composed of a
mass m hanging at a length
L from the mount point.
The force of gravity mgis
also labelled.

Fsimple
mg

mg

Figure 2: Diagram of the

rigid pendulum in Figure 1
with the mass displaced by
an angle . The force of
gravity and Fsimple are also
labelled.

mg

Figure 3: Diagram of a rigid

pendulum in Figure 1 that
has been tilted by the angle . The pendulum is allowed to rotate into and out
of the page by the angle .
The force of gravity mg and
Fsimple are also labelled.

where x is the pendulums displacement. Equation 8 has the form of a differential equation describing simple
harmonic motion. The solution is therefore periodic, with period given by
s
L
T = 2
.
(9)
g cos
Note that, as might be expected, when is set to zero the period becomes that of the simple pendulum, and
that when = /2 the pendulum no longer moves.

References
[1] Hennig, Lee Ann A. Variable g Pendulum, an Evaluation. The Physics Teacher, Vol 13, Sept 1975. pg
365-366.
[2] Hilton, Wallace A. Physics Demonstration Experiments at a William Jewell College, Other Types of Pendulums. American Association of Physics Teachers, June 1982. pg 14.
[3] Kwasnoski, J. B. and Murphy, R. S. The Classic Pendulum Experiment - On Jupiter or Saturn. American
Journal of Physics, Vol 52, January 1984. pg 85.
[4] Sutton, Richard Manliffe. Demonstration Experiments in Physics, M-129. Variation of Pendulum Period with
Field of Force. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc, 1938, pg 58-59.
[5] Variable g Pendulum, academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu. 7 July 2008.
<academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/physics/sobel/Phys1/Varg.html>.
[6] Variable g Pendulum, www.3bscienticic.hu. 7 July 2008.
<www.3bscientific.hu/experiments/en/UE105020 E.pdf>.
[7] Variable g Pendulumwww.nikhef.nl. 7 July 2008.
<www.nikhef.nl/ h73/kn1c/phywe/LEP/Experim/1 3 23.pdf>.