MEASUREMENTS

How to use the meter rule

It is made up of a long rigid piece of wood or steel and can measure objects up to 100 cm in length.
The smallest marking is usually 0.1 cm.

How to use: The zero-end of the rule is first aligned flat with one end of the object and the reading is
taken where the other end of the object meets the rule.
Accuracy: ± 0.1 cm
Errors in measurement

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How to use the stop watch

With the analog stopwatch, you press the start and stop and the reset to bring it to zero.
With the digital stopwatch you may need to use the mode button to change the reading from time or date
to stopwatch mode, and then press the start button to start and then stop button to stop the reading. The
stop/reset button is pressed to reset to 00.

How to use the vernier caliper

The precision of length measurements may be increased by using a device that uses a sliding vernier
scale. Two such instruments that are based on a vernier scale which you will use in the laboratory to
measure lengths of objects are the vernier callipers and the micrometer screw gauge. These instruments
have a main scale (in millimetres) and a sliding or rotating vernier scale. The vernier scale (below) is
divided into 10 equal divisions and thus the least count of the instrument is 0.1 mm. Both the main scale
and the vernier scale readings are taken into account while making a measurement. The main scale
reading is the first reading on the main scale immediately to the left of the zero of the vernier scale,
while the vernier scale reading is the mark on the vernier scale which exactly coincides with a
mark on the main scale

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 The reading here is 3.7 mm.
main scale reading is (3 mm),
vernier scale reading (0.7
mm). The reading is therefore
3.0 + 0.7 = 3.7 mm.

The reading here is 15.8 mm.

How to use the micrometer screw gauge

The micrometer screw gauge is used to measure even smaller dimensions than the vernier callipers. The
micrometer screw gauge also uses an auxiliary scale (measuring hundredths of a millimetre) which is
marked on a rotary thimble. Basically it is a screw with an accurately constant pitch (the amount by
which the thimble moves forward or backward for one complete revolution). The micrometers in our
laboratory have a pitch of 0.50 mm (two full turns are required to close the jaws by 1.00 mm). The
rotating thimble is subdivided into 50 equal divisions. The thimble passes through a frame that carries
a millimetre scale graduated to 0.5 mm. The jaws can be adjusted by rotating the thimble using the
small ratchet knob. This includes a friction clutch which prevents too much tension being applied. The
thimble must be rotated through two revolutions to open the jaws by 1 mm.

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In order to measure an object, the object is placed between the jaws and the thimble is rotated using the
ratchet until the object is secured. Note that the ratchet knob must be used to secure the object firmly
between the jaws, otherwise the instrument could be damaged or give an inconsistent reading. The
manufacturer recommends 3 clicks of the ratchet before taking the reading. The lock may be used to
ensure that the thimble does not rotate while you take the reading.

The first significant figure is taken from the last graduation showing on the sleeve directly to the left
of the revolving thimble. Note that an additional half scale division (0.5 mm) must be included if the
mark below the main scale is visible between the thimble and the main scale division on the sleeve.
The remaining two significant figures (hundredths of a millimeter) are taken directly from the thimble
opposite the main scale.

The reading is 7.38 mm.

In this figure the last graduation visible

to the left of the thimble is 7 mm and
the thimble lines up with the main scale
at 38 hundredths of a millimeter (0.38
mm); therefore the reading is

7.00 + 0.38 = 7.38 mm.

The reading is 7.72 mm.

In this figure the last graduation visible

to the left of the thimble is 7.5 mm;
therefore the reading is 7.5 mm plus
the thimble reading of 0.22 mm, giving
7.72 mm.

The reading is 3.46 mm.

In this figure the main scale reading is

3 mm while the reading on the drum
is 0.46 mm; therefore, the reading is
3.46 mm.

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 The reading is 3.56 mm.

In this figure the 0.5 mm division is

visible below the main scale;
therefore the reading is 3.5 mm +
0.06 mm = 3.56 mm.

Note: Taking a zero reading

Whenever you use a vernier calipers or a micrometer screw gauge you must always take a zero
reading i.e. a reading with the instrument closed. This is because when you close your calipers, you will
see that very often (not always) it does not read zero. Only then open the jaws and place the object to be
measured firmly between the jaws and take the open reading. Your actual measurement will then be the
difference between your open reading and your zero reading.

INSTRUMENT RANGE PRECISION EXAMPLES OF USAGE

Metre rule l <100cm 0.1 cm or 1 mm Length of book
Tape measure l > 100cm 0.1 cm or 1mm Circumference of your waist
Vernier calipers 1 cm < l < 10cm 0.01 or 0.1mm Diameter of beaker
Micrometer l <2 cm 0.001 or 0.01mm Diameter of wire
screwgauge

Try the following for yourself.

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Simple Harmonic Motion

Determination of g (acceleration due to gravity) using a Pendulum

EXPERIMENT 4

Diagram

 A pendulum bob is attached to a string of length l, about 100cm long at one end and the other
end clamped through a split cork
 The length l of the string is measured from the center of the bob to the edge of the cork and is
recorded.
 The bob is then displaced through a small angle θ
 Using a stop watch the time t1 taken for 20 complete oscillations is noted. With the same
length of thread the experiment is repeated and the time t2 is obtained. The average of t1 and t2
(t) is obtained.
𝒕
 The period T, for one complete oscillation is determined from the expression T = 𝟐𝟎 and hence
T2
 The experiment is repeated for five other lengths of the pendulum.
 Plot a graph of T2 against l and calculate the slope s.
Theory
𝒍 𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒍
T = 2𝝅√ and T2 =
𝒈 𝒈

𝟒𝝅𝟐 𝒍 𝟒𝝅𝟐
So potting T2 = circled expression is the slope s = then find g
𝒈 𝒈

Give an appropriate tittle for the experiment in your report.

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