KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
(KNUST)

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF YOUNG’S MODULUS OF

SOME WOOD SPECIES

ACQUAH PRINCE

4668718

BSC. METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE SCIENCE

18TH DECEMBER, 2018

 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page number

Abstract 2
Introduction 3
Diagram of Setup 4
Method/Procedure 5
Observation Table (Data) 6
Graphs of observation tables 7–8
Theory and Calculations 9 – 11
Results and Discussions 12
Error Analysis 13
Precautions 14
Conclusion 15
References 16

1
 ABSTRACT

The aim of this experiment is to determine the Young’s modulus of wood species. Young’s

modulus is a mechanical property that measures the stiffness of a solid material. It defines the

relationship between stress and strain in a material in the linear elasticity regime of uniaxial

deformation. The wood / beam clamped firmly to the edge of the bench by the G-clamp with a

definite length L projecting from it is depressed and vibrated and a stop watch is set to measure the

period (T) for twenty (20) vibrations with a mass on the 90 cm mark.

2
 INTRODUCTION

The experiment involves the bending and vibration of wooden beams. The depression s is due to the

load at W = mg at the end of the cantilever of the length L. The strain brings into play internal stress

which produces a restoring force equal to W. The Young’s modulus, E is calculated from the strain

and the stress produced in the beam arising from its moment of inertia.

3
DIAGRAM OF SETUP
The diagram below illustrates setup in determining the young’s modulus of wood species.

4
 METHOD/PROCEDURE

Apparatus needed includes;

1. G-clamp
2. Table/bench
3. Wood samples
4. A known mass
5. Stop-clock
6. Vernier callipers
7. Metre rule.

A loaded beam of mass 50 g attached to the end of the beam was clamped firmly to the edge of the
bench by the G-clamp with a definite length projecting from it. The load was affixed to the beam
such that it will cause but a small depression. The width and thickness of the beam were measured.
The weight W(mg) of the attached mass was determined. The loaded beam was caused to depress
and the period T for 20 oscillations was recorded.
𝑙
The experiment was repeated at three other positions on the beam such that 𝐼 ≤ 3. A graph of T2 as

a function of L3 was plotted and the Young’s modulus 𝐸 of the wood was determined. The
procedures above were repeated on other samples of the same species and the average value of the
Young’s modulus was calculated. The procedures above were repeated for the other species of
wood.

5
OBSERVATION TABLE

Table 1 values for specie 1

Width (b) = 4.8 cm thickness (d) = 0.5 cm mass of load = 0.05 kg

Length L3 /cm3 t1 /s t2 /s t /s T/s T2/s2
(l) /cm
90.0 729000 11.78 11.74 11.76 0.59 0.35
80.0 512000 10.93 10.96 10.95 0.55 0.30
70.0 343000 9.74 9.76 9.75 0.49 0.24
60.0 216000 8.69 8.67 8.68 0.43 0.19

Table 2 values for specie 2

Width (b) = 4.9 cm thickness (d) = 0.6 cm mass of load = 0.05 kg

Length L3 /cm3 t1 /s t2 /s t /s T/s T2/s2
(l) /cm
90.0 729000 9.19 9.21 9.20 0.46 0.21
80.0 512000 8.24 8.26 8.25 0.41 0.17
70.0 343000 7.91 7.89 7.90 0.40 0.16
60.0 216000 7.85 7.87 7.86 0.39 0.15

6
 Graphs Of Observation Tables For Wood Species

Graph A: A graph of T2 against L3 for wood specie 1

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25
T2/s2

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000 800000
l3 /cm3

7
 Graph B: A graph of T2 against L3 for wood specie 2
0.25

0.2

0.15
T2 /s2

0.1

0.05

0
0 100000 200000 300000 400000 500000 600000 700000 800000
l3 /cm3
8
 THEORY AND CALCULATIONS
The depression(s) due to the load at W(=mg) at the end of the cantilever of length l is

Wl3
s=
3IE
stress
where E = = Young ′ s Modulus
strain

bd3
and I = is called the moment of inertia.
12

This strain brings into play internal stresses which produce a restoring force equal to W, i.e.
equal to
3IEs
W= 3
l

The vertical oscillation produces an acceleration, so that from the Newton’s second law;
F = ma (Restoring force)

3IE
ma = mṩ = − .s
l3
so that the equation of motion becomes
3IE
ṩ+ .s = 0
ml3
demonstrating that the motion is simple harmonic with

3IE
ω2 =
ml3
2π 2 3IE
Or ( ) =
T ml3

Therefore, the period T of the simple harmonic motion is

ml3
T = 2π√
3IE

2
and hence, gradient (g) which is equal to T ⁄
L3 is given by
4π2 m
gradient =
3IE

And Young modulus E, of wood species is given as

4π2 m
E=
3Ig

9
 Gradients of graphs
∆T2
Slope of graph of specie 1 =
∆l3
0.35 − 0.20
=
(729000 − 200000)𝑥10−6

= 0.28 s2 /m3

∆T2
Slope of graph of specie 2 =
∆l3

0.21 − 0.16
=
(729000 − 343000)𝑥10−6

= 0.13 s2 /m3

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie 2 = I=
12
0.048 x 0.0053
=
12

= 5.0 x 10−10 kg/m2

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie B = I=
12
0.049 x 0.0063
=
12

= 8.82 x 10−10 kg/m2

Having calculated the slope and moment of inertia of each wood specie, the Young’s modulus
of each wood species was then found as follows;

Young modulus; E of specie 1 =

4π2 m
E =
3Ig

4(3.1422 ) x 0.05
=
3(5.0 x 10−10 )(0.28)

= 4.70 x 109 Pa ± 0.01

10
Young modulus; E of specie 2 =

4π2 m
E =
3Ig

4(3.1422 ) x 0.05
=
3(8.82 x 10−10 )(0.13)

= 5.74 x 109 Pa ± 0.01

11
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The values obtained after the experiment as a value for the young modulus with respect to

the two different wood species as in table 1 and 2 were 4.70 x 109 Pa ± 0.03 and 5.74 x 109 Pa ±

0.03 respectively. Comparing the values obtained to other wood species like Balsa and Royal

Paulownia with Young’s modulus values of 3.71 x 10 9 Pa and 4.38 x 10 9 Pa respectively, it could

be seen that different wood species have different Young’s modulus value. The value of young’s

modulus, E in each wooden species depends entirely on the width and thickness of the various

wooden species and its moisture content.

12
 ERROR ANALYSIS
4π2 m
E=
3Ig
4π2 m
⇒ log E = log
3Ig

log 4π2 +log m

⇒ log E =
3 log I+log g

⇒ log E = log 4π2 + log m − 3 log I − log g

⇒ log E = log m − 3 log I − log g

δE δm δI δg
⇒ = −3 −
E m I g

δm δI δg
⇒ δE = ( −3 − )
m I g

0.001 0.01 x 10−10 0.01

⇒ δE = ( −3 −10 − )E
0.05 6.91 x 10 0.21

where I, E and g values used are mean of values obtained from calculations.

⇒ δ E = - 0.0319

δ E = ± 0.03

13
 PRECAUTIONS

1. The stop clock was reset to zero mark before taking vibrational timings to ensure near
accuracy in time periods.

2. Windows were closed to prevent blowing winds from affecting or disturbing oscillating of
beam.

3. The clamp was tightly fixed to prevent wood from removing or falling off from the bench.

14
 CONCLUSION

The objectives of the experiment thus determining the young’s modules of different species of

wood was successful. Experimental values obtained indicated that different wood species have

varied Young’s modulus value (strength). This discovery is relevant in sectors where they make use

of wood in their production in choosing wood that has more strength. Results are thus reliable and

hence, procedures are recommended for other similar experimentations.

15
 REFERENCES:

1. David W. Green, Jerrold E. Winandy, and David E. Kretschmann. Mechanical Properties of

Wood. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch04.pdf

2. Hudh D.Y. and Freedman A.R. (2004) Sears and Zemansky’s University of Physics with
Modern Physics 11th ed. U.S.A: Pearson Education, Inc. publishing.pp 187 – 192

3. https://www.wood-database.com/balsa/

4. Smith and Van-Dyke S. A, Reginald, M. N., David W. S. Laboratory manual in

Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics K. N. U. S. T, pp. 5 – 6.

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