An astronaut on the Moon attaches a small brass ball to a 1.00- m length of string and makes a simple pendulum. She times 15 complete swings in a time of 75.0 seconds. From this measurement she calculates the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon. What is her result?
T =2•π•sqrt(L/g),
T =t/Ná
g = 4• π^2•L•N^2/t^2 =
=4• π^2•1•15^2/75^2 =
=1.58 m/s^2
To calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon, we can use the formula for the period of a simple pendulum. The period, T, is the time it takes for one complete swing.
The formula is given by: T = 2π√(L/g)
Where:
T = period
L = length of the string
g = acceleration due to gravity
In this case, the astronaut measured 15 complete swings in a time of 75.0 seconds:
T = 75.0 seconds / 15 swings
T = 5.0 seconds per swing
Now we can rearrange the formula to solve for g:
T = 2π√(L/g)
T^2 = (2π)^2(L/g)
g = (4π^2L) / T^2
Plugging in the known values:
L = 1.00 m
T = 5.0 s
g = (4π^2 * 1.00) / (5.0)^2
Calculating the value:
g = (4 * 3.1416^2 * 1.00) / 25
g ≈ 6.27 m/s^2
So, her calculation for the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon is approximately 6.27 m/s^2.
To calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon, the astronaut needs to use the formula for the period of a simple pendulum, which is given by:
T = 2π * √(L/g)
where:
T is the period of the pendulum (time for one complete swing)
L is the length of the pendulum string
g is the acceleration due to gravity
In this case, the astronaut times 15 complete swings in a time of 75.0 seconds, which means the period (T) is 75.0 seconds divided by 15, or 5.0 seconds.
Substituting the known values into the equation, we get:
5.0 = 2π * √(1.00/g)
Now we need to isolate g to find the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon. Rearranging the equation and solving for g, we have:
√(1.00/g) = 5.0 / (2π)
Squaring both sides of the equation, we get:
1.00/g = (5.0 / (2π))^2
Now we can solve for g:
g = 1.00 / [(5.0 / (2π))^2]
Evaluating this expression gives us the approximate value for the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon as:
g ≈ 1.63 m/s²
Therefore, the astronaut's result for the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon is approximately 1.63 m/s².