EXPERIMENT NO.

1
Measure the diameters of a few ball bearings of different sizes using Screw
Gauge and estimate their volumes. Mention the uncertainty in each result.

Figure (a)

Figure (b)
1. Determine the zero error in figure (b).
Zero error = Z = No. of circular scale divisions that has not crossed the index line ×
L.C.
Zero error = Z = 3 × 0.01 mm = 0.03 mm
2. How a zero error can be corrected?
Zero error can be corrected by using zero correction. Zero correction is the negative
of zero error. A positive zero error is always subtracted from the final resulting value,
while a negative zero error is always added in the final resulting value.
3. Determine the main scale and circular scale reading from figure (a).
Main scale reading = M = 5 mm
Circular Scale Reading = C = n × L.C.
Circular Scale Reading = C = 10 × 0.01 mm = 0.10 mm

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4. Determine the diameter of the solid sphere in figure (a).
Observed Diameter = D’= Main Scale Reading + Circular Scale Reading
Observed Diameter = D’= 5 mm + 0.10 mm = 5.1 mm
Corrected Diameter = D = Observed Diameter - Zero Correction
Corrected Diameter = D = 5.1 mm - 0.03 mm = 5.07 mm
5. Determine the volume of the solid sphere and the uncertainty in it.
Radius = r = D/2 = 5.07/2 = 2.54 mm
4 4
Volume of sphere = 3 πr3 = 3 (3.14)(2.54)3 = 68.6 mm3
L.C.
% age uncertainty in radius = × 100%
Measurement
0.01
% age uncertainty in radius = 2.54 × 100%

% age uncertainty in radius = 0.4%

% age uncertainty in volume of sphere = 3 × 0.4% = 1.2%
Volume with uncertainty = (68.6 ± 0.82) mm3
6. The diameter of a wire as measured by screw gauge is 0.22 mm. What is the
area of cross section in cm2 of the wire?
Radius = r = D/2 = 0.22/2 = 0.11 mm = 0.011 cm
Cross Sectional area of wire = A = πr2 = (3.14)(0.011)2 = 3.8 × 10-4 cm2
7. The ratio of the pitch of the screw to the least count of the screw gauge is
equal to?
The ratio is equal to the total number of divisions on circular scale.
8. What is the reading power of the screw gauge?
The reading power of screw gauge is one hundredth of millimeter i.e. 1/100 mm.
9. What is meant by the pitch of screw gauge?
It is equal to the distance moved by the circular scale along the linear scale during its
one complete rotation.
10. Why several readings are taken while performing an experiment?
Repeating the measurement several times and taking an average can reduce the effect
of random error.

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 EXPERIMENT NO. 2
Determine the weight of a body by vector addition of forces.
A student is finding the weight of an object by using the apparatus shown in
figure.

 He places two objects of equal masses i.e. m1 = m2 = 5g on both ends of

threads that are passing over friction less pulleys.
 He measures the angle ‘θ’ and ‘ϕ’ making by force P and Q respectively
along x-axis as 10o.
He repeats the procedure by placing masses 10g and 15g. The readings are
shown in table.
1. Determine horizontal component of resultant vector ‘R’.
m1 m2 θ ϕ P=m1g Q=m2g Px Qx Rx
5 5 10 10 50 50 49 49 0
10 10 20 20 100 100 94 94 0
15 15 30 30 150 150 130 130 0

2. Determine vertical component of resultant vector ‘R’.

m1 m2 θ ϕ P=m1g Q=m2g Py Qy Ry
5 5 10 10 50 50 9 9 18
10 10 20 20 100 100 34 34 68
15 15 30 30 150 150 75 75 150

3. By using the above data, determine the weight of an object.

R=w
18

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 68
150

4. If the experimentally determined value of unknown weight is 79.67 kg, while

its actual value is 80.93 kg, then determine the percentage error in the weight.
Actual Value − Measured Value
%age error in the weight = × 100%
Actual Value
80.93 − 79.67
%age error in the weight = × 100%
80.93

%age error in the weight = 0.02%

5. In Gravesand’s apparatus what is the main source of error in the reading and
how it can be removed.
The main source of error in Gravesand’s apparatus is the friction between the pulleys.
It can be removed by oiling the pulleys.
6. Represent resolution of forces ‘P’ and ‘Q’ by drawing a figure.

7. What happens to the component Pcosθ and Qcosϕ?

These components are equal and opposite and hence cancel each other, as the point ‘O’
is in equilibrium.
8. What is x-component of 10N force acting along y-axis?
Since Fx = Fcosθ = Fcos90o = 0
9. Name any two methods of vector addition.
The methods of vector addition are involves head to tail rule. They are:
 Trigonometric method of vector addition
 Parallelogram method of vector addition (i.e. graphical method)
10. What is a dyne?
The unit of force in C.G.S. system is dyne.One dyne is that force which produces an
acceleration of one centimeter per second square in a mass of one gram.

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 EXPERIMENT NO. 3
Investigate the value of g by free fall method using electronic timer.

Complete the column headings.

1. Calculate mean time.
2. Calculate acceleration due to gravity.
Height Time Acceleration due to
(cm) (s) gravity
g = 2h / t2
t1 t2 t1 + t2/2 (cm/s2)
80 0.402 0.403 0.4025 987.6
92.5 0.434 0.432 0.433 986.7
100 0.451 0.451 0.451 983.2

3. Calculate mean value of acceleration due to gravity.

987.6 + 986.7 + 983.2
g= = 985.8 cm/s2
3

4. Convert the value of g from CGS system to SI system.

985.8
g = 985.8 cm/s2 = = 9.858 m/s2
100𝑠2

5. Calculate the percentage error.

Actual Value − Measured Value
%age error = × 100%
Actual Value
9.806 − 9.858
%age error = × 100%
9.806

%age error in the weight = 0.5%

6. Derive the expression for acceleration due to gravity for electronic timer.
According to 2nd equation of motion

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 1
S = vit + 2at2

∴ S = h, vi = 0, and a=g
g = 2h / t2
7. What kind of motion is executed by the bar?
The motion of bar is simple harmonic motion.
8. Why do we take one-fourth of the time period of the bar as time of free fall?
It is because the metallic bob travels the vertical distance in the time the bar
completes one-fourth of its oscillation.
9. How does the mass of bob affect the value of g in the experiment?
As the value of g is independent of the mass of a falling body, so the value of g will
not change if we change the mass of bob.
10. What is the main source of error in the actual and measured value of g?
There are two sources of systematic error:
a) The time-delay in releasing the ball.
b) A delay in switching the timer off.

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 EXPERIMENT NO. 4
Determine the radius of curvature of convex lens and a concave lens using
spherometer.

1. Complete the following table.

Spherometer Reading for Spherical Surface
Vertical Scale Reading Circular Scale Reading h1 = A + B
A (mm) B (mm) (mm)
0 0.05 0.05
1 0.10 1.1
2 0.15 2.15

Spherometer Reading for Plane Surface

Vertical Scale Reading Circular Scale Reading h2 = X + Y
X (mm) Y (mm) (mm)
3 0.20 3.20
5 0.30 5.30
7 0.40 7.40

2. By using the above data, determine the value of ‘h’.

h = h1 - h2
(mm)
3.15
4.2
5.25
3. Calculate mean sagitta ‘h’.
3.15 + 4.2 + 5.25
h= = 12.6 mm = 1.26 cm
3

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4. Determine mean length from equilateral triangle.

AB = l1 = 3.5 cm
BC = l2 = 3.5 cm
CA = l3 = 3.5 cm
3.5 + 3.5 + 3.5
l= = 10.5 cm
3

5. What is the principle of a spherometer?

It works on the principal of a micrometer screw.
6. Determine radius of curvature by using the formula
𝒍𝟐 𝒉
R = 𝟔𝒉 + 𝟐

R = 15.21 cm
7. What is meant by radius of curvatur of a surface?
The radius of that sphere from which the surface is cut.
8. Can you measure the radius of curvature of wrist-watch glass by using a
spherometer?
No, because the wrist-watch glass is small and all the legs of the spherometer cannot
rest on it.
9. What will be the effect of
(a) Changing the pitch or
(b) Changing the number of circular divisions
upon accuracy or least count.
(a) If we decrease the pitch; the least count will decrease, and hence the accuracy
increases.
(b) If we increase the number of circular divisions; the least count will decrease, and
hence the accuracy increases.
10. Define focal length.

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The distance between the pole and the principal focus of spherical mirror is called the
focal length. The focal length of spherical mirror is half of its radius of curvature.

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 EXPERIMENT 5
Verify that time period of simple pendulum is directly proportional to the square
root of it's length and hence find the value of g from the graph.

Observation
Smallest division on main scale= 1mm= 0.1cm
No of division on vernier scale= 20
Least count = smallest division on main scale/no of division on vernier scale = 0.1cm/20=
0.005cm
Mean diameter of bob
d=1.56+1.57+1.56/3 = 1.56cm
Mean radius
r= d/2 = 1.56/2=0.78cm

No Length Total Time for 20 vibrations Tim T2 √L 1. T/√

of of thread length t e L
obs +hook L=L1+r 1 2 mean peri
L1 sec sec sec od
T=t/
20

cm cm 33.09 33. 33.0 sec sec2 cm1/2 sec ×cm-1/2

1 69.2 70 03 6 1.68 2.82 8.366 0.20
36.30 35. 35.8 24
2 79.2 80 45 7 1.79 3.20 8.944 0.20
38.28 37. 37.9 41
3 89.2 90 54 1 1.90 3.61 9.486 0.20
4 99.2 100 40.12 40. 40.1 2.00 4 10 0.20
10 1

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Q1:(a)complete the above headings/units.
(b) Complete the column √L
(c) Complete the column T/√L
Q2: Plot a graph between L and T2 by taking L along x- axis and T2along y axis. Start
both the axis at the origin (0,0).

√T
Length (L)

Q3:Why should the bob of a simple pendulum be kept very near to floor of the
laboratory?
Ans: The bob should be kept near to the floor to minimize the resistance of air.
Q4:What affects the time period of pendulum?
Ans: length and acceleration due to gravity.
Q5: Would the behaviour of a simple pendulum change if the iron bob is replaced by
lead bob of same size?
Ans: No, because it's time period is independent of the mass of bob.

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 EXPERIMENT 6
Verify two conditions of equilibrium using a suspended meter rod.

Q1: A student is finding the weight of a meter rule using the apparatus I'm fig 1.

Table 1
x y A=Px B=Qy
(cm_) (___cm___) (_Ncm___) (__Ncm___)
40.0 42.5 40.0 34
35.0 36.0 35.0 28.8
30.0 30.0 30.0 24
25.0 24.0 25.0 19.2
20.0 17.5 20.0 14
1) ln the table1:
a) Complete the column headings/units.
b) Complete the column A=Px
c) Complete the column B=Qy
2)Why it's necessary to suspend the meter rod edgewise?
Ans: The suspended meter rod should be suspended edgewise so that it may act like a rigid body.if it
is suspended flat , it may bend due to the weight which is suspended at the center of gravity.
3)What are necessary conditions for body to be in complete equilibrium?
Ans: It should have zero linear acceleration and zero angular acceleration i.e sum of force is equal to
zero and sum of torque is equal to zero.
4) Can a body be in equilibrium if only one force is acting on it?

Ans: No,if only one force is acting on a body ,net force will not be zero. So body will not be in
equilibrium.

5)Does anticlockwise torque is taken as positive or negative?

Ans: The anticlockwise torque is taken as positive while clockwise torque is taken as negative.

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