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Torsional Pendulum Torsional Pendulum Torsional Pendulum

(without masses) (with masses at d1 (with masses at d2


close to the axis) away from the axis)

Figure 1.1 Torsional Pendulum

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 1


Rigidity Modulus - Torsional Pendulum

Expt. No. : Date:

AIM

To find the moment of inertia of the disc and the rigidity modulus of the material of the
suspension wire subjected to torsional oscillations.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To assess the shear elastic behavior of a given material using torsional pendulum

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To measure the time period of the torsional pendulum


2. To calculate the moment of inertia of the disc
3. To measure the radius of the wire using screw gauge
4. To determine the rigidity modulus of the wire using the formula

APPARATUS REQUIRED

Metallic disc
Brass/steel wire
Symmetrical masses
Stop clock
Metre scale
Screw gauge
Stand

FORMULA

1. Moment of inertia of the disc


T02
I 2m(d d ) 2
2 2
(kg m2)
(T2 T12 )
2 1

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 2


TABLE I
L T02
To find 2 and 2
TO (T2 T12 )

Length of Time for 10 oscillations(s)


Distance
the Period L / T02 T02
between
S.No suspension T 10-2 ------------
the masses Trial I Trial II Mean
wire L (s) (m/s2 ) ( T22 - T12 )
(10-2m)
(10-2m)
No mass T0 =

1 d1 = T1 =

d2 = T2 =

No mass T0 =

2 d1 = T1 =

d2 = T2 =

L
2 = .. 10 m/s
Mean -2 2
TO

T02
Mean =
(T22 T12 )

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2. Rigidity modulus of the material of the wire
8I L
n (N/m2)
r 4 T02

Symbol Explanation Unit


I Moment of inertia of the disc kg m2
m Value of one of the two masses placed on the disc kg
d1 Closest distance between the center of mass and the wire m
d2 Farthest distance between the center of mass and the wire m
T0 Time period without any mass placed on the disc s
T1 Time period when two masses are placed at a distance d1 s
T2 Time period when two masses are placed at a distance d2 s
n rigidity modulus of the material of the suspension wire N/m2
L length of the suspension wire m
r radius of the suspension wire m

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
1. Torsional oscillation
It is the periodic oscillation produced by twisting the wire
2. Torsional pendulum
A body suspended from a rigid support by means of a thin elastic wire is called a
torsional pendulum
3. Rigidity modulus
Rigidity modulus is defined as ratio of shearing stress to shearing strain
4. Moment of Inertia
It is a measure of a bodys tendency to resist the angular acceleration
5. Torque
The product of moment of inertia and angular acceleration (or) the rate of change of
angular momentum

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 4


LEAST COUNT FOR SCREW GAUGE

Pitch
Least Count (LC) =
Number of head scale divisions

Distance moved 5 mm
Pitch = = = 1mm
Number of rotations given 5

1 mm
LC = = 0.01mm
100

TABLE - II

To measure the radius of the wire using screw gauge

Zero Error (ZE) : division Zero Correction (ZC) : mm

Pitch Scale Head Scale


Observed Reading Correct Reading
S. No. Reading Coincidence
OR = PSR + ( HSC LC ) CR = OR ZC
PSR HSC
(10-3 m) ( 10-3 m)
( 10-3 m) (divisions)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Mean diameter (d) = . 10-3 m

Radius (r = d/2) = . 10-3 m

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PROCEDURE
1. One end of the material of the wire is clamped using a vertical chuck. A metallic disc
is attached to the other end of the wire.
2. The length of the suspension wire is fixed to a particular value. The disc is slightly
twisted so that the disc executes torsional oscillations.
3. The time taken for ten oscillations is noted using a stop clock. Two trials are taken for
each length. The mean time period T0 is found.
4. Now two equal masses are placed on either side of the center of the disc close to the
suspension wire.
5. The closest distance d1 from the center of the mass to the center of the suspension
wire is found.
6. Now the disc is made to execute torsional oscillations. The time taken for 10
oscillations is measured and the time period T1 is calculated.
7. Now the two equal masses are placed at the edges of the disc. The farthest distance d2
from the center of the mass to the center of the suspension wire is found.
8. Now the disc is made to execute torsional oscillations. The procedure is repeated and
the time period T2 is calculated.
9. The radius of the wire(r) is found using a screw gauge.

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OBSERVATION

Value of one of the masses placed on the disc m = . 10-3 kg


The closest distance between the suspension wire
and the center of the mass d1 = . 10-2 m
The farthest distance between the suspension wire
and the center of the mass d2 = . 10-2 m
Radius of the suspension wire r = . 10-3 m
Mean value of L/T02 = . 10-2 m/s2
Mean value of T02 /( T22 - T12) = .

CALCULATION

Moment of inertia of the disc


T02
I 2m(d d ) 2
2 2
kg m2
(T2 T12 )
2 1

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RESULT

The moment of inertia of the disc I = . 10-3 kg m2

The rigidity modulus of the material of the given wire n = . 10 10 N/m2

APPLICATIONS
Torsional pendulum clocks, shafts in automobiles

VIVA VOCE QUESTIONS


1. Why is it called torsion pendulum?

2. What happens to the period of oscillation when the length of suspension wire is
decreased?

3. Define moment of inertia.

4. If the radius of the wire is doubled, what happens to the moment of inertia?

5. Is it possible to determine the rigidity modulus other than solids?

STIMULATING QUESTIONS

1. Why is a hollow shaft stronger than a solid shaft of same mass and material?

2. Identify the role of moment of inertia of the clothes from the beginning to end of
cycle in washing machine.

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 8


Rigidity modulus of the material of the wire
8I L
n N/m2
r 4 T02

Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 9


Department of Physical Sciences, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam 10

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