Torques and Rotational Equilibrium of a Rigid Body

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Introduction:
Torque is a force that cause rotation in an object. Torque is the cross product of
lever arm and the force. Torque can produce rotation either clockwise or counter-clockwise,
clockwise torque is taken as negative and counter-clockwise as positive. The net torque is sum
of clockwise and counter-clockwise torque. If we have vector sum of all forces equal to zero
body will be in translational equilibrium. If the sum of clockwise and counter-clockwise torque
is equal to zero then the body will be in rotational equilibrium. Center of mass and center of
gravity plays an important role in rotation of body. Center of gravity is a point where the torque
because of differential elements become zero and center of mass is a point where whole mass
will get balance.

Data:
Procedure:
Part 1. Torque due to Two Known Forces

1. Determined the mass of the meter stick using laboratory balance.

2. Placed the meter stick on the knife edge and adjusted its balanced enough to make it
stay still without falling. Where the knife edge is located is the center xg.
3. Mass 1 is placed on the position given in the measurement and then placed mass 2 on
the opposite side.
4. Balanced it by placing mass on opposite side and noted that position.
5. Followed this procedure by placing different weights at different positions that were
given and then balanced them.

Part 2. Torque due to Three Known Forces:

1. Balanced meter stick at xg and used three masses m1, m2 and m3.
 2. Followed the above procedure and recoded the data.

Part 3. Determination of the Meter Stick Mass by Torques

1. Placed m1 at position x1 and slide the meter stick until it got balanced with xg.
2. Followed the above procedure and recoded the data.

Part 4. Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Determinations of the Location of an

Applied Force

1. Placed 4th mass on meter stick and balanced it. Recorded that position d4 ( exp ).
2. Then after calculation determined that position again theoretically d4 ( theo ).

Part 5. Determination of an Unknown Mass by Torques

1. Placed at least one known mass on meter stick.

2. Placed some unknown masses on the stick and balanced them so that system was in
equilibrium.
3. Sum of all forces equal to zero then it became easy to calculate the masses.

PRE-LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

1. State a definition of torque and give an equation for torque. Define the terms in the equation
Answer:
Torque is a force that cause rotation in an object. Torque is the cross product of lever
arm and the force.
𝜏 =𝐹×𝑑
Where F is force and d is perpendicular lever arm.
2. What are the conditions for equilibrium of a rigid body? State in words and equation form
and define the terms of the equations.
Answer:
For a body to be in equilibrium two conditions must be fulfilled sum of all forces and
sum of all torque must be equal to zero i.e.
𝛴𝐹 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛴𝜏 = 0

3. For the meter stick shown in Figure 10-4, the force F1 = 10.0 N acts at 10.0 cm. What is the
magnitude of the torque due to F1 about an axis through point A perpendicular to the page? Is
it clockwise, or is it counterclockwise? Show your work and give correct units.
Answer:
Taking 0 of scale as an origin
𝜏 = 𝐹 × 𝑑 = 10 ∗ 0.1 = 1 𝑁 − 𝑚 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒)

4. In Figure 10-4 the force F2 ¼ 15.0 N acts at the point 70.0 cm. What is the magnitude of the
torque due to F2 about an axis through point B and perpendicular to the page? Is the torque
clockwise, or is it counterclockwise? Show your work and give correct units.
Answer:
Taking 0.5m of scale as an origin
𝜏 = 𝐹 × 𝑑 = 15 ∗ 0.200 = 3 𝑁 − 𝑚 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒)
5. For the meter stick in Figure 10-4, what is the magnitude of the net torque due to both forces
F1 and F2 about an axis perpendicular to the page through point A? Is it clockwise or
counterclockwise? Show your work.
Answer:
𝜏1 = 𝐹 × 𝑑 = 10 ∗ 0.1 = 1 𝑁 − 𝑚 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒)
𝜏2 = 𝐹 × 𝑑 = 15 ∗ 0.700 = 10.5 𝑁 − 𝑚 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒)
𝑡𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑡1 + 𝑡2 = 1 + 10.5 = 11.5 𝑁 − 𝑚 (𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒)

6. In Figure 10-5 if mass m1= 0.100 kg acts at 20.0 cm, what is the value of mass m2 that must
be placed at the position 70.0 cm shown to put the system in equilibrium? Write the equation
for sigma tccw = sigma tcw with the mass m2 as unknown and solve for m2. Assume that the
meter stick is uniform and symmetric. Show your work.
Answer:
𝑚1𝑔𝑑1 = 𝑚2𝑔𝑑2 → 0.1 ∗ 9.8 ∗ 0.300 = 𝑚2 ∗ 9.8 ∗ 0.200 → 𝑚2 = 0.15 𝑘𝑔

Meter Stick Data Table:

m0= 0.0703 kg xg=0.5 kg

Data and Calculations Table 1

Mass (kg) Position (m) Lever arm (m) Torque (N-m) % Difference

m1 = 0.100 x1 = 0.100 d1=0.400 tccw =0.392

0%
m2 = 0.200 x2 =0.700 d2=0.2200 tcw =0.392
Data and Calculations Table 2

Mass (kg) Position (m) Lever arm (m) Torque (N-m) % Difference

m1 = 0.100 x1 = 0.100 d1=0.400 tccw =0.45

m2 = 0.200 x2 =0.750 d2=0.250 76.3%

m3=0.300 x3=0.270 D3=0.230 tcw =0.1127

Data and Calculations Table 3

Support Position
xo = m
Mass (kg) Position (m) Lever arm (m) m(exp) = kg % Error

m1 = 0.200 x1 = 0.100 d1=0.400 0.281 0.2%

m0 = 0.500 Xg =0.285 d0=0.2850

Data and Calculations Table 4

Support Position xo =
0.400 m
Mass (kg) Position (m) Lever arm (m) Equation for the
Torque
m1 = 0.050 x1 = 0. 0.050 d1=0.45 m1gd1+ m2gd2+
m4gd4= m3gd3+ m0gd0
m2 = 0.300 x2 = 0.300 d2=0.200

m3 = 0.200 x3 = 0.700 d3=0.2 Solving equation for

d4 gives (d4)theo =
0.2389 m
m4 = 0.100 x4 = 0.205 d4=0.295

m0 = 0.0703 xg =0.500 d0=0

Data and Calculations Table 5.

1. Placed the meter stick at the center of gravity.

2. Placed a mass of 0.0500 kg at position x1 = 0.1000 m mark on the meter stick.

3. Placed the unknown mass on the meter stick in the position such that the system is in
an equilibrium position.

4. Equate the torque due to ma to the torque due to m(exp) with m(exp) treated as an
unknown and solve of me. Record the values in the table below.
 Mass (kg) Position (m) Lever arm (m) mexpd2g=m1gd1

m1 = 0.0500 x1 = 0.100 d1=0.395

mexp = 0.0652 x2 =0.798 d2=0.302 mexp=m1(d1/d2)

Value for known mass = 0.06549 kg

% Error for m(exp) =|E – K|=K * 100% = (0.06549-0.06523)/(0.06549) x 100% = 0.40%

Analysis:

Questions 1.

Consider the percentage difference between the Σtccw and the Σtcw for the first two parts of
the laboratory when known forces are balanced. A difference of 0.5% or less is excellent, a
difference of 1.0% or less is good, and a difference of 2% or less is acceptable.

Answer:

For the first part the difference is 0 % and for the second part it’s less than 76.3%.

Questions 2.

Using the same criteria as in Question 1 for the percentage differences, describe your results
for the determination of mass of the meter stick in Part 3 of the laboratory and for the
determination of the lever arm of the mass m4 in Part 4 of the laboratory.
Answer:
 The data is looking good and verifies the theory. The error is less than 1% which verifies
the theoretical work

Questions 3.

In all of the experimental arrangements the mass of the knife‐edge clamp is ignored. Is this an
approximation because its mass is small, or is there some reason it makes no contribution to
the torque? State you’re reasoning clearly.
Answer:

Let assume the mass of the knife edge clamps is distributed symmetrically, its mass
would act through the point of suspension, and thus have a zero lever arm and always produce
zero torque.

Questions 4.
Suppose an experimental arrangement like the one in Part 2 has mass m1 = 0.200 kg at the
0.100‐m mark and a mass m2 = 0.100 kg at the 0.750‐m mark. Can the system be put in
equilibrium by a 0.050‐kg mass? If it can be done, state where it would be placed. If it cannot
be done, state why not
Answer:
For Counter-clockwise:
Σtccw = (0.2000)(9.80)(0.3948) = 0.7738 N‐m
For Clockwise:
Σtcw = (0.1000)(9.80)(0.2552) = 0.2501 N‐m
For balance we need 0.7738 – 0.2501 = 0.5237 N‐m of torque, but by using 0.5kg of mass we
have torque =(0.0500)(9.80)(0.5052) = 0.2475 N‐m. So by using 0.5kg of mass we can’t be able
to balance the system.

Questions 5.
In Part 1 of the laboratory, what is the value of the force Fs with which the support pushes
upward on the meter stick?
Answer:

ΣF=0 and FS = (0.1000+0.2000+0.0703)(9.80) = 3.63 N

Questions 6.
For the equilibrium conditions established in Part 4 of the laboratory, calculate the
counterclockwise and clockwise torques about an axis perpendicular to the page through a
point at the left end of the meter stick. Calculate the percentage difference between the net
counterclockwise torque and the net clockwise torque.
Answer:

FS = (0.0500+0.3000+0.2000+0.1000+0.0703)(9.80) = 7.06 N

Σtcw=(0.0500×0.0500+0.3000×0.3000+0.2000×0.7000+0.100×0.0.205+0.0703×0.500) (9.80)
= 2.82387 N‐m
Σtccw = FS (0.4000)(9.80) = (7.06)(0.4000)(9.80) = 2.7675
% Difference = (2.82387‐2.7675)/(2.82387)×100% = 1.99%.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we learned that to get full balance and record the force, the meter
stick should be in a state of equilibrium. The equilibrium is obtained by putting weights
at totally different distances to eventually balance one another out. This creates an impact very
similar to a see saw. However, in order to balance a see saw the
load should be equally distributed and that they should be placed at the proper distances from
the pivot.