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Physics Lab #2- Mass of Metre Rule

The experiment aimed to determine the mass of a metre rule using the principle of moments by measuring distances from a pivot to a 50g mass and the centre of gravity. The calculated mass of the metre rule was found to be 0.086 kg, which aligns with theoretical expectations despite potential sources of error. The experiment highlighted the importance of precision in measurements and the impact of external factors on results.

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keieraaudain
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32 views

Physics Lab #2- Mass of Metre Rule

The experiment aimed to determine the mass of a metre rule using the principle of moments by measuring distances from a pivot to a 50g mass and the centre of gravity. The calculated mass of the metre rule was found to be 0.086 kg, which aligns with theoretical expectations despite potential sources of error. The experiment highlighted the importance of precision in measurements and the impact of external factors on results.

Uploaded by

keieraaudain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Student Name: Keiera Audain

Class:_________________
Title: Dynamics

Date of practical activity: ___________________________

Date of submission of lab report: ______________________

Aim: To determine the mass of a metre rule using the principle of


moments.

Apparatus and Materials:

• Metre rule

• Pivot

• 50g mass

• string

Diagram:
Procedure:

1) The ruler was placed on the pivot in a position of equilibrium and the centre of
gravity was recorded.
2) A string was used to hang the 50g mass at the 5.0 cm mark to ensure even
distribution of the 50g at the 5.0 cm mark.
3) The pivot was removed to ensure that the ruler was in equilibrium and the
distance between the 50g mass, and the pivot was labelled ‘a’.
4) The distance between the centre of gravity and the pivot was labelled
‘b’.
5) The new position of the pivot was recorded.
6) The procedure was repeated with the 50g mass moved closer to the centre of
the metre rule in intervals of 5.0 cm.

Results: TABLE SHOWING DISTANCES FOR ‘a’ AND ‘b’ recorded.


Position of Position of pivot, a/cm = (y-x)cm b/cm = (50-
mass, x/cm y/cm± 0.1 cm error in a = ± 0.2 y)cm error in b=
± 0.1 cm ±0.2

5.0 33.6 28.6 16.4

10.0 35.3 25.3 14.4

15.0 37.3 22.3 12.7

20.0 38.9 18.9 11.1

25.0 40.9 15.9 9.1

30.0 42.6 12.6 7.4

35.0 44.5 9.5 5.5

40.0 46.3 6.3 3.7

45.0 48.2 3.2 1.8

Treatment of Results:
A graph of a/cm vs b/cm was plotted

Calculations:

Error Calculations:
Precautions:
1. It was ensured that the meter rule was placed horizontally and level on the
pivot to maintain equilibrium during measurements.

Sources of error:
1. Air draughts

Assumptions:
1. The pivot is assumed to be frictionless.
2. The mass of the string is negligible compared to the mass of the 50g weight
and the meter rule.
Discussion:

In this experiment, the mass of the meter rule was determined using the principle of
moments. The principle of moments states that for an object to be in equilibrium, the
sum of the clockwise moments must equal the sum of the anticlockwise moments. By
hanging a 50g mass at various positions along the meter rule and measuring the
distances from the pivot to both the mass and the center of gravity, this principle was
applied to calculate the mass of the meter rule. For each position of the mass, the
distance a from the pivot to the mass and b from the pivot to the center of gravity was
recorded and the mass of the meter rule was found.

The calculated mass of the meter rule was 0.086 kg, which is a reasonable result
given the assumptions of the experiment. Several sources of error could have
impacted the accuracy of the results. These include potential inaccuracies in
measuring the distances between the pivot and the mass or the center of gravity, as
well as ensuring that the meter rule remained perfectly horizontal during each trial.
Additionally, friction or uneven distribution of weight might have slightly affected the
balance. Despite these factors, the experiment successfully demonstrated the use of
the principle of moments, and the result aligns well with expectations.

Reflection:
From this experiment, I have furthered my understanding of how the principle of
moments can be used to calculate unknown masses by balancing forces. I also
gained insight into how small errors in measurements and external factors like air
draughts can affect the accuracy of experimental results.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the mass of the meter rule was determined to be 0.086 kg using the
principle of moments. Despite minor errors such as measurement inaccuracies and
air draughts, the experiment provided a reliable result consistent with theoretical
expectations.

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