Question

How do you measure the time period of a given pendulum? Why do you note the time for more than one oscillation?

Answer 1

Hint:The time taken by the pendulum to complete one oscillation is called its time period. We note the time for more than one oscillations to get accurate results.

Complete step by step answer:
A pendulum is a weight suspended from a fixed point that swings freely back and forth due the force of gravity. When the bob is not moving, the position at which it stays at rest is called the mean position. To measure the time period of the pendulum, we have to record the time the pendulum takes to complete one oscillation. To do so, the bob of the pendulum is displaced slightly from the mean position and then released. The pendulum moves back and forth about the mean position. We measure the time periods of a number of oscillations and an average value of all the time periods gives us an approximate time period of the pendulum.
Additional information:
The formula for calculating time period is given by,
\[T=\sqrt{\dfrac{L}{g}}\]
Where, L = length of the string.
g = acceleration due to gravity.
The time period of a simple pendulum is calculated in seconds.
Frequency is defined at the number of oscillations in one second. It is given by,
\[F=\dfrac{1}{T}\]

Note:As per the formula for time period, we can say that the time period of pendulum depends upon the length of the string and the force of gravity. We can also say that the time period of the pendulum does not depend on the weight of the bob.