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RP 04 - Determination of Young's Modulus

This document outlines the required practical to determine the Young's modulus using a simple method. The experiment involves measuring the extension of a steel wire when hung with increasing 1kg masses and calculating the Young's modulus from the slope of a stress-strain graph. Safety goggles and a sand tray are required due to the risk of the tightly stretched wire breaking.

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Whisper Musiyarira
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150 views

RP 04 - Determination of Young's Modulus

This document outlines the required practical to determine the Young's modulus using a simple method. The experiment involves measuring the extension of a steel wire when hung with increasing 1kg masses and calculating the Young's modulus from the slope of a stress-strain graph. Safety goggles and a sand tray are required due to the risk of the tightly stretched wire breaking.

Uploaded by

Whisper Musiyarira
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AQA Physics A-level

Required Practical 4
Determination of the Young modulus by a simple method

www.pmt.education
● Equipment:
○ 2 1.5m long steel wires
○ Main scale and vernier scale
○ 1kg masses and 2 1kg holders
○ Micrometer
○ Metre ruler
● Method:
○ Set up the apparatus as shown in the diagram.
○ Measure the initial length l of the test wire with the
metre ruler.
○ Add a 1kg mass holder to both wires so they are taut
and record the initial scale reading.
○ Add an additional 1kg mass to the test wire and
record the new scale reading. Find its extension e by
subtracting the initial scale reading from this and
record it.
○ Add another 1kg mass and repeat this, adding 1kg
each time up to around 8kg.
○ Repeat the experiment twice more and find and
record the mean e for each m, where m is the mass
of the 1kg masses on the test wire’s holder.
○ Measure the diameter d of the test wire at various points along it using the
micrometer and find and record the mean diameter.
● Graphs and calculations:
2
πd
○ Calculate the cross-sectional area A of the wire by A= 4
○ Find the force F on the test wire for each m by calculating mg and tabulate this.
○ Plot a graph of F against e and draw a line of best fit. The young modulus E will be l
multiplied by the gradient divided by A.
stress F /A Fl lG
○ E= strain = e/l = Ae = A where G is the gradient.
● Safety:
○ The wire will be stretched very tightly and could break and injure eyes, so safety
goggles must be worn.
○ If the wire breaks, the masses could fall and cause injuries, so a sand tray should be
placed beneath them to catch them.
● Improvements and notes:
○ The comparison wire compensates for sagging of the beam and thermal expansion
effects and provides a reference point against which to measure the extension.
○ The original length l of the test wire should be as long as possible to reduce
uncertainty in its measurement.

www.pmt.education

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