Physics Practica

38

ADDITION OF
CO-PLANAR
FORCES
EXPERIMENTNO. 4
for completely

Scalar physical
magnitude is required
physical quantitiesquantities.
quantities- The are called scalar
energy etc.
representing
which only their speed, time, work,
physical quantities which. require magnitude a
Example-Distance, quantities-The called vector quantities.
physical representation are momentum etc
Vector for their
complete acceleration, force,
as direction velocity, addition. They are added
wellExample-Displacement, general laws of b
not follow the
do law.
Vector quantities polygon
law and vector quantities-For reprenting a vector
triangle law,
parallelogram
Geometrical
representation of vector quantity
the direction ofline is taken in theandratio
quantith¹ty
along
is drawn in of the
geometrically a straight linemade on it. The length of
this
lf more than one vectors
direction arrow sign is quantity taking appropriate scale. ae
the vector for all quantities.
magritude of used
reprsented then the same scale is acting on an gh
to be the positive X-axis)
For exanmple- F=15/N (15 N force, along
follows-
can be represented as Y
+X
-Length
=3 cImn
Object Z
force1
Scale: 1cm = 5 N
.of-vector quantity
Fig: 4.1Geometrical representation
vectors-Expressing the effect of two or morE
Parallelogram law of addition of of vectors. The vector obtained iscalled th
called addition
vectors by one vector only is added are called the componentsof this
resultan
resultant vector and the vectors that are
vector.
vectors are represented in the tori
Parallelogram law-According to this law, if twodiagonal
of a parallelogram, then the
sides of the' pärallelogram tror
of twoadjacent
intersection of these sides denotes the resultant vector of the two vectors
the point of
magnitude and direction. B.

A
D. ru'
additiont)4t)
Fig: 4.2 Parallelogram law of vector
Physics Practical
39
Magnitude of the resultant vector
R=P+Q +2PQ cos0
Where , is the angle between P and the direction of
Q vector R with ’

0=tan| Qsin9
P+Qcos
Equilibrium of three planar vector- Three planar vectors p. o and s
equilibrium at a point if are in

ie.
P+Q+S=0
S=-P+Q)S=-R
i.e., the resultant vector of any two vectors is
but opposite in direction then the three equal in
(Where R=P+Q)
magnitude the third vector
to
In the state of equilibrium vectors are in equilibrium with each other.

Or
S=R=P+Q+ 2PQCos®
SXPERIMENT No. 40)
Object-To find the weight of a given object using parallelogram law of
Apparatus-Apparatus vectors.
for parallelogram law (Gravesand's apparatus), given
set of weights, strong thread, white paper, strip of plane object,
box, hanger etc. mirror, drawing pin, geometry
Formula and Principle
If the resultant vector of two forces R and , is E then the magnitude of E from
the parallelogram law of vectors.
F=
JE+F+ 2FE, cos
Where is the angle between and F,.If these twO vectos are in equilibriumn with
the third vector then

|SEFFVR++2R5,o Cos

Experiment Method
) Description of Gravesand's apparatus-It is awooden, vertical drawing board
On the upper two corners of which two friction less pulleys P, and P, are attached. Three
KOng threads that are tied at a point Oare taken. Of these two threacds are suspended
through the pulleys P, and P, and at their free ends hangers are fixed on which known
bghts are suspended. On thethird thread an unknown weight is supended with the
help of hanger.
(4) A white paper is fixed on the board with the help of pins.
 Physics Practica
40
oiled to make them friction less.
(iv) Nowpulleys
(iii)The knownare
weights on twothreads and unknownin the centre are so suspende
in the centre of the paper. In this
that the knot Oof the
three threads is almost
condition
allthe three weights are in equilibrium.

F
Y X
H U
White
Paper

Wooden board

Object whose weight

.isto be found

Fig: 4.3 Gravesand's Apparatus

knot O and the third thread is pulled
pencil under the original marK,
(v) Now a mark is made with knot comes back to the
coming to rest the
then released. If on knot does not come
a little and
equilibriumof the three weights. If the weights on either
then this is the position of by reducing or increasing the known
back to the original position then
side the equilibrium is again obtained. attained the strip of plan mirror is kept beloW
(vi)Once the stable equilibrium is manner that the
thread and the image of the thread is seen in the mirror in such a
each
exactly under the thread. In this position on both the edges of the mirror strip
Image is image. The weights P and Qon both
pencl marks are made on the paper in line with the
the threads are noted.
Tne paper is removed from the drawing board. The experiment is repeated
(V)
with second and then third paper.
(vii) The marks on the paper P, and P, (for weight F,) Q, and Q, (for weight. F,) and
S, and S, (for unknown weightS) are.joined to the point O with a metre scale and the

lines from Ofor K. E and are obtained.

sics Practical
41
(ix) Taking suitable scale, the side equivalent to weight F is
obtained on the line F
the side OB equivalent to weight , is obtained on the line
CB is constructed.
and parallelogram
(x) The length of the diagonal OC of this
parallelogram represents the third vector
Le. the value of the unknown weight.
(x) Similarly from the observations talken on other
their mean is calculated. This is the required weightpapers, unknown weight is found
of the given object.
C

Q1

S
Fig: 4.4
Dbservations
Let scale 1 cmn = g weight.
able
S. Known weight Sides of parallelogram on
No. Weight Mean weight
the paper corresp on of unknown
Weight Weight F2 ding to object
(in g Side Sides Diagona the length
S=
(in g weight) OA OA 10C of 3
weight) cores corres (cm) diagonal
pon di pondi OC(ing
ng to ng to weight
we igh weigh
t R
1
(cm)
S;=
2
S,=
3 S,=
 42 APhysics Prach
Calculations
() On each paper, according to the steps (ix) and (x) of the
length of the diagonal is found by constructing a parallelogram.experiment
m
() Unknown weight S=(length of OC) x(weight for 1cm
method
(im) Unknown weight S, S S, for each paper is found and length) g
the nean isweight.
required unknown weight. taken
S+S, +S,
3gram weight
Result
From the parallelogram law of vectors the weight of the given
object is
Precautions
(1) Board should be vertical and still.
(2) Pulleys should be friction less.
(3) Threads should be weightless and.
(4) The knot of the threads should not strong.
be big.
(5) The equilibrium of forces should be properly checked.
(6) There should be no parallax error
plane mirror strip. while marking the directions of forces 1i
Sources of Error
(1) Pulleyscannot be made
(2) Measurement can
show
completely friction less.
(3) The thread is not error if the weight have error.
completely weightless.
Viva-Voce
Q.1. Define scalar
quantities.
Ans. The quantities which are represented
are called scalar completely by mágnitude (not diret
Q.2. Define quantities.
vector quantities.
Ans. The quantities which are
are called vector
Q,3. What is quantities. of
represented completely by 'magnitude
and dire
combination
;Ans, When two or more vectorsvectors?
effect of these vectors by a single are acting on a point, then denoting the
Q.4. What is the vector is called of vectors." aggy
combination
parallelogram
Ans: When two vectors act on law of addition of vectors?
parallelogram in point whichrepresents two adjacent siaes
by the diagonal inmagnitude and direction, then their resultant vector will be represe
of the tWo sides. :magnitude and direction which passes
Q.5. Give examples of vector through the point of inters
Ans: Displacement, yelocity, quantities.
Q.6, What type of
quantity acceleration,
is momentüm, force etc.
Ans. A vector quantity weight?
0.7. Is mass. a vector because it is the gravitational force on an
quantity? object.
hysics Practical 43
Ans. Mass is a scalar quantity.
0.8. In observations, what unit is used for weight.
Ans. Kg weight or gram weight.
0.9. Gram is the unit of which quantity?
Ans. Mass
0.10. What is the difference between gram and gram weight?
Ans. Gram is the unit of mass while gram weight is the unit of weight.
Q.11. Define force.
Ans. Force is the push or pull exerted by an object on another object.
0.12. What are the units of force?
Ans. Newton (SI unit), dyne (CGS system), Kg- weight and gram - weight
avitational units).
Q.13. 1 Kg weight is equal to how many newton?
Ans. 1 Kg weight gnewton = 9.8 N.
Q.14. 1 gram weight is equal to how many newton?
Ans. 1 gram weight = 9.8x10-* N.
0.15. What do you mean by one newton forcé?
Ans. 1 newton force is the force that can produce an acceleration of 1 m/s² in a
dy of mass 1kg.
Q.16. What are the dimensions of force?
Ans. [MLT1
0.17. What is the resultant force of two forces E and E ?
Ans. Resultant force F=E +F, +2EF, Cos
Q.18. When and what is the maximum value of the resultant force?
Ans. Maximum value F =F+ , when 9=0° ie. when the force is exerted in one
1
ection only.
Q.19. When and what is the minimum value of resultant force?
Ans. Minimum value F=F- F,When e=180° ie, the forces are acting in opposite
ections.
Q.20. What do you understand by the equilibrium of concurrent forces?
Ans. Concurrent forces are in equilibriumn if the vector sum of all the forces is zero.
Q21. Three.forces, are so arranged that they form a closed triangle. What can you
about the combination of forces?
Ans. The three forces are in equilibrium.
Q22. Can metallic,wires be used in this experiment instead of thread?
Ans. No, because metallic wire is not weightless andfornotvelocities?
completely elastic.
23. Is the parallelogram law of forces also true
Ans.,Yes, because velocity is also a vector quantity.
Q.24. Where is the triangle law practically used?
Ans. In flying kites and in hanging picture frames.marking under the thread?
2.25. Why is the strip of plane mirror used for
Ans. For finding the actual position of the image.
Q.26. Can this apparatus be used as physical balance for measuring weights?
which the
Ans. No, because some friction is always present in the pulleys due to
ht obtained is not accurate.