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Young’s Modulus

The document outlines a worksheet for measuring Young's modulus using a beam bending experiment. It details the objective, materials needed, key concepts, procedure, data collection, discussion questions, and real-life applications of Young's modulus. The experiment involves measuring the deflection of a cantilever beam under a known load to calculate the material's stiffness.

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3 views

Young’s Modulus

The document outlines a worksheet for measuring Young's modulus using a beam bending experiment. It details the objective, materials needed, key concepts, procedure, data collection, discussion questions, and real-life applications of Young's modulus. The experiment involves measuring the deflection of a cantilever beam under a known load to calculate the material's stiffness.

Uploaded by

tdit84
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Young's Modulus Measurement (Beam

Bending Experiment) Worksheet

Objective

Determine the Young's modulus (E) of a material by measuring the deflection of a cantilever
beam under a known load. Using the beam bending formula, calculate the material's stiffness
based on the measured deflection.

Materials Needed

A uniform beam (e.g., a metal or wooden rod) with a rectangular cross-section


A 100-meter tape measure (or an accurate ruler) for measuring beam dimensions and
deflection distances
A set of known weights to apply as a load
A rigid support to secure one end of the beam (creating a cantilever setup)
A dial gauge or a precise ruler to measure beam deflection at the free end
Notebook and pen for recording measurements and calculations
Calculator for computations

Key Concepts

Young's Modulus (E):


A measure of a material's stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic
region.

Cantilever Beam Bending:


When a load (W ) is applied at the free end of a cantilever beam of length L, the vertical
deflection δ at the free end is given by:
W L3
δ= 3EI
where:

δ is the deflection (in meters)


W is the applied load (in newtons)
L is the length of the beam (in meters)
E is Young's modulus (in pascals, Pa)
I is the moment of inertia of the beam's cross-section (in m⁴)
Moment of Inertia for a Rectangular Cross-Section:
For a beam with width b and thickness h:
I= bh3
12

Calculating Young's Modulus:


Rearranging the deflection formula gives:
W L3
E= 3δI

Procedure

1. Setup:

Secure one end of the beam to a rigid support, forming a cantilever.


Measure and record the beam’s length L, width b, and thickness h.
Calculate the moment of inertia using:
I= bh3
12

2. Measurement:

With no load applied, note the initial position of the beam’s free end.
Apply a known weight W at the free end of the beam.
Measure the deflection δ (the vertical displacement) at the free end.
Record the weight, beam dimensions, and measured deflection.
Optionally, repeat the measurement for several different weights to verify linearity.

3. Calculation:

For each trial, calculate Young's modulus using:


W L3
E= 3δI
If multiple trials are performed, average the calculated values to obtain a final
estimate for E .

4. Analysis:

Compare your computed Young's modulus with standard values for the material.
Discuss potential sources of error (e.g., measurement inaccuracies, non-uniform
beam dimensions, or deviations from ideal cantilever behavior).

Data Table
Beam Measured Moment of Calcula
Trial Weight Width Thickness
Length Deflection Inertia Mo
Number W (N) b (m) h (m)
L (m) δ (m) I = (bh3)/12 E=
(m⁴)

Average

Fill in your measured values and perform the calculations as indicated.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the deflection change with increasing load, and does it follow the theoretical
model?
2. What assumptions are made in the cantilever beam bending model, and how might real-
world factors affect your measurements?
3. How sensitive is the calculated Young's modulus to errors in measuring beam dimensions
and deflection?
4. What improvements could be made to the experimental setup to increase measurement
accuracy?
5. How does the computed Young's modulus compare with literature values for the material,
and what factors could account for any discrepancies?

Real-Life Applications

Structural Engineering:
Determining Young's modulus is essential for designing beams and other structural
components that must withstand loads.
Material Science:
Young's modulus is a fundamental property used to select materials for various
engineering applications.
Quality Control:
Manufacturers test material stiffness to ensure consistency and performance.
Mechanical Design:
Knowledge of material elasticity informs the design of machines, vehicles, and other load-
bearing structures.
Enjoy your experiment and explore how simple bending tests can reveal the intrinsic
properties of materials!

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