1 A uniform rod with centre \(C\) has mass \(2 M\) and length 4a. The rod is free to rotate in a vertical plane about a smooth fixed horizontal axis passing through a point \(A\) on the rod, where \(A C = k a\) and \(0 < k < 2\). The rod is making small oscillations about the equilibrium position with period \(T\).

1. Show that \(T = 2 \pi \sqrt { \frac { a } { 3 g } \left( \frac { 4 + 3 k ^ { 2 } } { k } \right) }\). (You may assume the standard formula \(T = 2 \pi \sqrt { \frac { I } { m g h } }\) for the period of small oscillations of a compound pendulum.)
2. Hence find the value of \(k ^ { 2 }\) for which the period of oscillations is least.