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E204: TORQUE: SECOND CONDIION OF EQUILIBRIUM

POLICIOUS, Mark Angelo F.

OBJECTIVE
The Purpose of this experiment is analyzation of
systems in equilibrium and its application, the
effect of torque in system force and the radial
distance on its axis of rotation. Another is to
determine the weights of the pans, force needed
to be in equilibrium and weight of the beam.
Torque is the measurement of force acting on an
object that causes an object to rotate and aside
from the title itself torque plays major role to
complete this experiment.
Other objective of the experiment is to analyze
the systems in equilibrium using the second
condition of equilibrium by Newton and to
distinguish of its uses and significance. The
ability of the body to rotation in a certain
direction is dependent on the torque applied. To
verify this system, three experiments were
performed. A beam is subjected to two balanced
forces perpendicular to it and putting it in
equilibrium state after when a weight force is
applied. The force affecting torque and the
system as well as the rotation equilibrium
applied. Through to this we can conclude that It
is verified and satisfy the principle.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For this experiment, Torque: Second condition
of equilibrium:
The needed materials are model balance
(manufacturer PASCO scientific), a set of mass
loads (manufacturer PASCO scientific), 1 piece of
meter
stick,
a
protractor
(manufacturer
ORIONS), 2 pieces of weight pans (manufacturer
PASCO scientific), a spring balance (manufacturer
DHAUS), and a digital weighing scale.

Figure 1: Complete set of materials


needed in experiment.
In the first piece of the experiment which is the
determining the weights of the pans, the model
balance was set
up in a leveled
table top and the
axis of rotation
was verified in
the middle of the
beam. A weight
pan with a mass
of 24.86 g was
hung to both
side of the beam
and
tried
to
balance.
From
then, a 10 gram
mass W1 loaded in the left weight pan and
attempt to make the system in balance by
moving the unloaded weight pan in the right side
near to the rotation of the axis. Patience was
observed as well as the determination due to the
beam that was really sensitive. Do the same
thing of the right weight pan. Load a mass and
try to move the unloaded weight closer to the
center. Moving the two weight pan is necessary
especially if the mass load is getting heavy. The
distance L1 or L2 of the weight pan (both side) to
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the center was measured by a ruler to compute


for the P1 and P2 using the formulas provided. Do
the same procedures for every trial.

the
state
of
equilibrium.
From
then, the distance of
the weight pan on the
new axis of rotation
(L1) and the distance
of the former axis of
rotation to the new
axis
(L2)
was
measured by a ruler.
The values obtained
was used to compute
for the Wb(computed) and for Wb(measured) was done
using a weighing machine to compare the
experimental value to the actual value. Do the
same procedures for each and every trial.
Formulas was already provided to solve readily
after the obtaining the data.

For the second


Determining the

piece of the experiment:


force needed to be in
equilibrium. Same set
up was use but the
difference
spring
balance is required. To
start with the first a 50
gram mass load was
placed (W1) on the left
weight pan of the beam.
The force needed to be
in
equilibrium
was
measured by the spring
balance and verified that the angle was an acute
angle in the horizontal position. The angle of
inclination of the spring balance from the beam
was measured by a protractor and the distance of
the weight pan L1 and the spring balance L2 to
the center was measured by a ruler. The
gathered data using the spring balance is the
Fmeasured. After which,
force exerted on the
system was computed
using
the
given
formula.
For the second trial,
same mass load was
placed but this time
the spring balance
was on the right side
and
below
the
horizontal
of
the
beam.
Same
procedure was applied and the values gathered
were used to compute for the force applied to the
system.
For the third piece of the experiment:
Determining the weight of the beam. The axis of
rotation was placed on the provided hole. The
weight pan hang on the left side of the beam and
a 50 gram mass load (W1) added and placed on
the weight pan and adjusts its position until in

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS


In the first part of the experiment: the
determination of the weight of the pans. A
sample computation of weight of the pans for the
first trial is presented below.
(

)(
(

)(
)(

)
)
(

( )(
(
)(

)(
)

Table 1. Determining the Weight of Pans


Actual value of pan 1, P 1 =24.8 grams
Actual value of pan 2, P 2 = 24.8 grams

Trial
1
2
3

W1= 10g
W2= 5g
W1= 15g
W2= 25g
W1= 30g
W2= 20g

L1
(cm)

L2
(cm)

13.5

18.7

12

19.2

13

L3
cm)

L4
(cm)

P1
(comp)

P2
(comp)

14.7

26.86

26.61

19.8

9.7

24.27

24.55

18.5

9.8

23.73

24.80

17.3

Average weight of pan 1, P 1= 24.95 g

% Difference of P1 = 0.60%

Average weight of pan 2, P 2= 25.32g

% Difference of P2 = 2.07 %

This table shows the data gathered such as


weights of the pan and distances from the center
to pan.
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In the second part of the experiment: the


determination of the force applied needed to be
in equilibrium. A sample computation of force
applied needed to be in equilibrium for the first
trial is presented below.
(

)( )
)

(
(

)(
(

)
))

Table 2. Determining the Force needed to be in Equilibrium

Trial

L1
(cm)

L2
(cm)

W1+P1

FComputed

FMeasured

(g)

(g)

(g)

23.3

7.5

74.8

268.49

280

0.04 %

23.8

14.7

74.8

171.7

140

0.2%

% diff

This table shows the force applied needed to be


in equilibrium, the distances of the pans from the
axis of rotation and the differences of between
the two trials.
In the third part of the experiment: the
determination the weight of the beam. A sample
computation of weight of the beam for the first
trial is presented below.
(

(
(

)( )
( )
)(
)

TABLE 3. Determining the Weight of the Beam

Trial

L1
(cm)

L2
(cm)

W1+P1

WB(Computed)

WB(Measured)

(g)

(g)

(g)

13.7

7.5

74.8

136. 63

12.2

7.5

84.8

137.94

10.7

7.5

94.8

135.5

136.1

Average Weight of Beam, WB = 136.61 g


Percent Difference = .0037 %

This table shows the weights added on the pans


and the distances of the pans from the new axis

of rotation as well as the new axis of rotation


from the original center of the axis of rotation.
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
In the first experiment, the positions of the pans
are changing and moving closer to the axis of
rotation whenever there is a weight loaded in the
pan while in the pan (no added weight) is farther
to the axis of rotation to make the system in
equilibrium. In conclusion, the heavier the mass
added the closer to its axis of rotation in order to
make the state in equilibrium and vice versa. In
the second part of the experiment, the angle of
the spring balances affects the equilibrium as the
angle increase, the forces decreases and it does
not give an accurate reading because it is done
by hand not a machine. Therefore, equilibrium
still can be achieved but the resulting force
towards to the angle is not as much as accurate.
In the last part of the experiment, getting weight
of the beam, changing the axis of rotation,
change the center of the gravity and as the mass
increases the weight pan is getting closer and
closer to the new axis of rotation.
In the experiment balancing the beam needs
focus, patience and determination. The beam is
sensitive especially the weight pan a little of
unnecessary touch the beam fall. If one of the
groupmate is clumsy, it becomes harder and high
risk of % difference obtained. Another thing,
measuring distance in between the axis of
rotation and the weight can be source of error
and it is because of inaccuracy. Aside from the
fact that were human, we cant tell the whether
the beam is totally levelled, the measurement is
exact and this is the angle needed by using our
own hands. We just assume.
We must observe that the torque is directly
proportional to force which means more force
greater torque and to the force connected to
each system might have equivalent distance from
its axis. Whenever there is more force applied, it
will require less separation from the axis and vice
versa for it to be a rotational equilibrium.

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In real life application, torque was used and


applied in cars because it is the turning power
and having great torque corresponds to a great
speed and horsepower and also apply off-roads in
which road is bumpy and not levelled.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT & REFERENCE

http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/torq.html

Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Resnick, R.


(2014). Principles of Physics. 10th Edition.
262-264.

I would like to thank my group mates for a job


well done. For Christel Lopez, who always ready
in taking picture and uploading right away on
that day. Isabel Salvo, accuracy in getting
measurement of every trail of experiment. Nick
Fernandez, for his MacBook and mastery in doing
excels. An Soung Man, courtesy in the
experiment. Zueleta and also myself, for doing
the sample computations after performing the
experiment. Our teamwork would is undeniably
the key on having a commendable results. I
would not have done this experiment by myself.
Thank you.
I would like to acknowledge the lab assistants for
lending us the laboratory apparatuses as well as
their politeness. Next, I would like to thank Prof.
Ricardo De Leon for sharing us the quiz results
and making us nervous. It was a tough for me for
having that result but it doesnt mean I give up.
Again, thank you sir.
And especially, I would like to thank Almighty
God for giving me the knowledge, and the
wisdom in writing this laboratory report also the
previous lab reports.
Sources:

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outd
oor-activities/off-roading/torque-offroading.htm

http://lofi.forum.physorg.com/Torque_12
718.html

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdriv
ers/magazine/articles/VehicleInsider/Horsepower-vs-Torque

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/to
pic/600049/torque
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