An astronaut has landed on another planet and conducts an experiment to determine the acceleration of gravity on that planet. She uses a pendulum 0.640 m long and determines that the period of oscillation is 2.60 s. What is the acceleration of gravity on that planet? A) 4.85 m/s² B) 1.66 m/s² C) 3.74 m/s² D) 2.39 m/s² E) 9.81 m/s²

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The period of oscillation of a pendulum is given by:
T = 2π√(L/g), where L is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration of gravity.
Rearranging the equation, we get:
g = (4π²L)/T²
Substituting the given values, we get:
g = (4π² x 0.640 m) / (2.60 s)² = 3.74 m/s²
Therefore, the acceleration of gravity on the planet is 3.74 m/s², which is closest to option C (3.74 m/s²).

An Astronaut Has Landed on Another Planet and Conducts an Experiment