A measurement of g with a ring pendulum

Abstract

A classical problem in mechanics, in which a solid ring of negligible thickness may oscillate around two axes, is studied. Simple and accurate measurements of the periods of oscillation about two diferent axes provide both a convincing check of the main features of this problem-solving example and a measurement of g. A simple photogate system and "Creative Wave Studio", an improperly used software, allows accurate measurements of the periods of oscillation. The experiment is designed as an undergraduate student's laboratory activity, but it can be equally used and discussed as a classroom experiment.

Keywords

• classical mechanics
• measurement of g
• ring pendulum