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Exp 1

This document describes an experiment to verify the law of polygon of forces using a universal force table apparatus. The law states that the resultant of concurrent coplanar forces is equal to the closing side of a polygon drawn tip to tail with the forces as sides. Weights are hung from rings attached to strings passing over pulleys to apply different forces at angles. Vector diagrams are drawn to scale to represent the forces. Measurements are recorded and the percentage error between the actual resultant and calculated resultant is determined. The experiment confirms that the closing side of the polygon represents the total resultant force, verifying the law of polygon of forces.

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Rajesh Kherde
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108 views

Exp 1

This document describes an experiment to verify the law of polygon of forces using a universal force table apparatus. The law states that the resultant of concurrent coplanar forces is equal to the closing side of a polygon drawn tip to tail with the forces as sides. Weights are hung from rings attached to strings passing over pulleys to apply different forces at angles. Vector diagrams are drawn to scale to represent the forces. Measurements are recorded and the percentage error between the actual resultant and calculated resultant is determined. The experiment confirms that the closing side of the polygon represents the total resultant force, verifying the law of polygon of forces.

Uploaded by

Rajesh Kherde
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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EXPERIMENT No.

LAW OF POLYGON OF FORCES


OBJECTIVE:

To verify the law of polygon of forces with the help of universal force table
apparatus.

APPARATUS:

Universal Forces table with five pulleys, rings with five string weight, slotted
weight, plain paper and geometry box.

THEORY:

Polygon law of forces states that if a number of concurrent forces are acting
simultaneously on a body, are represented in magnitude and direction by the
sides of a polygon, taken in order, then the resultant is represented in
magnitude and direction by the closing side of the polygon, taken in opposite
order.

PROCEDURE:

 Before starting the experiment make the graduated table horizontal with
the help of levelling screw.
 Clamp the pulley to the graduated disc of the force table.
 Tie one and of thread to the circumference of small rings and place it
around the central axis of the apparatus.
 Attach other end of the string to the weight hangs which will carry small
slotted weight.
 Pass one string over each pulley.
 Place slotted weight on the weight hanger in such a manner that ring is
placed around the center.
 Note down the angle between different threads and corresponding
weights.
 Draw a space diagram of the force acting a part such that the time of
action of each force corresponding to the angles of forces between them.
 Chose a suitable scale and make mark a point on a paper and draw the
vector diagram of force system acting at a point by drawing parallel line
of each force proportional to the chosen scale.

Procedure to draw vector diagram:

 Draw a line OA parallel and equal to W1 assuming a suitable scale.


 Draw a line AB parallel and equal to W2 from point A assuming the
same scale.
 Similarly draw BC and CD parallel and equal to the force W3 and W4.
 Join OD i.e. the closing side by dotted line, which represents the resultant
of polygon (graphically).
 Measure the line OD and compare it with W5 by using the same scale.
 Find the error by using the formula given in the observation table. Error
should be positive.

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Sr. FORCE (in grams) ANGLE ( in degree) RESULTANT ERROR


No W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 θ1 θ2 θ3 θ4 θ5 OF FORCES IN %
(R) (OD)
1
2
3
4
5
ERROR IN % : (W5 –R)/W5 x 100 or (R- W5)/R x 100
PRECAUTIONS:

 Ring should not touch the control axle of the disc and should be at the
center of the table.
 Graduated disc should be made kept perfectly horizontal.
 Positions of the strings should be at the centre of the table.
 Pulley should be frictionless.

Results:

If any number of coplanar concurrent forces can be represented in magnitude


and direction by the sides of a polygon taken in order; then their resultant
will be represented by the closing side of the polygon taken in opposite order.
Since by drawing forces tip to tail we get a closed polygon, the closing side
of the polygon represents W5; hence Law of Polygon of forces is verified.

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