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Lab 3

This lab experiment aimed to verify the polygon law of forces using a polygon force apparatus. The apparatus was used to balance weights attached to each side so the central ring was in the center. Theoretical calculations of the forces were done by resolving into x and y components and finding the resultant. Experimental data was also collected using AutoCAD. The results found a small non-zero resultant due to friction, with less than 5% error between theoretical and experimental values, verifying the polygon law holds under non-ideal, real-world conditions.

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31 views

Lab 3

This lab experiment aimed to verify the polygon law of forces using a polygon force apparatus. The apparatus was used to balance weights attached to each side so the central ring was in the center. Theoretical calculations of the forces were done by resolving into x and y components and finding the resultant. Experimental data was also collected using AutoCAD. The results found a small non-zero resultant due to friction, with less than 5% error between theoretical and experimental values, verifying the polygon law holds under non-ideal, real-world conditions.

Uploaded by

Collective Studies
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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School Of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, NUST

ME-115 Engineering Mechanics (Fall 2023)

Name: Aqib Nadeem CMS: 408902


Section: B Group: 02

Experiment 03: Polygon Force Apparatus

Objectives:

The objective of this lab was to use the apparatus to study the polygon law or head to
tail rule. The apparatus was used to verify the law both by theoretical technique and
experimental one.

Apparatus:

• Polygon Force Apparatus


• Weights and Weight Holders
• Threads
• Frictionless Pullies

Theory:

When the weights on the 5 sides of the apparatus are balanced in such a way that the
common point (ring) is in center of the page attached to the board, then we can conclude
that the system is in equilibrium and that by adding these forces by polygon rule will
give a resultant sum of 0. This happens if the threads are inextensible and pullies are
frictionless. But as the pullies are not completely frictionless and the threads are also
little bit extensible too so the resultant won’t be zero. It will give us a small value of
resultant force.

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Procedure:

• Carefully untangle the cords if any entanglement is found.


• Paste a A4 size paper on the board and paste it horizontally.
• Now, carefully hang the wires on the pullies and attach weight holders to them.
• Start adding weights to each side of the system and try to balance it so that the
ring is in center of the paper.
• Once the system is balanced, mark the threads by drawing lines using them as
reference.
• Remove the paper and draw axis from origin of all the forces.
• Now check the angles of all the forces either from positive x-axis or from any
nearest axis but remember to use the correct signs.
• Use the formula:
𝑭 = 𝑾 = 𝒎𝒈

Calculate the magnitude of all the forces by using the masses attached to
respective sides.

• Now, resolve the forces to x and y components.


• Add the x and y components of all the forces to get 𝐹𝑋 and 𝐹𝑌 respectively.
• Use the formula to find resultant force.

𝑭𝑹 = √𝑭𝑿 𝟐 + 𝑭𝒀 𝟐

• Also find the angle of the resultant force by formula:


𝑭𝒀
𝜽 = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [ ]
𝑭𝑿
• Now, verify this data by drawing the polygon on AutoCAD and by hand on a
piece of paper.
• The error between the theoretical and experimental data should be less than 5%.

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• If the error is more than 5% than carry out the experiment again until the error
reduces to 5%.

Readings and Calculations:

• Theoretical Data and Calculations:


Force Mass Magnitude Angle from 𝑭𝑿 = 𝑭𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽 𝑭𝒀 = Fsinθ
Type (g) of Force nearest Axis
(F=mg)
𝑭𝟏 300 g 2.94 N 38° -2.31 N 1.81 N
𝑭𝟐 150 g 1.47 N 39° -1.14 N -0.92 N
𝑭𝟑 150 g 1.47 N 90° 0 -1.47 N
𝑭𝟒 150 g 1.47 N 29° 1.28 N -0.71 N
𝑭𝟓 250 g 2.45 N 35° 2N 1.4 N
𝚺𝑭𝑿 = −𝟎. 𝟏𝟕 𝚺𝑭𝒀 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟏

Now, finding angle of the resultant force


0.11
θ = tan−1 [ ] θ = 32° Note: 148° from positive x-axis.
−0.17
For magnitude of the resultant force

𝐹𝑅 = √𝐹𝑋 2 + 𝐹𝑌 2 = √(−0.17)2 + (0.11)2

𝑭𝑹 = 0.202 N

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• AutoCAD/Experimental Analysis:
θ = 31°
𝐹𝑅 = 0.206 N

Results and Discussion:

• In non-ideal conditions sum of all the forces of polygon is not 0 but gives some
small value. This value is due to various factors, the important one is friction of
pullies.
• The experimental and theoretical results should have minimum error.

Conclusion:

This experiment concluded that under non-ideal conditions the polygon law can’t be
proved. The addition of vectors doesn’t give zero resultant.

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