CBSE – CLASS XI

PHYSICS
PRACTICAL FILE – PART 2
(Experiments 5 – 9)

Session 2026 – 2027

Name : ______________________________

Class / Section : XI ______

Roll Number : ______________________________

School : ______________________________
PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

INDEX

[Link]. Name of Experiment Page No.

5 To verify the Parallelogram Law of Forces using a force table. 3

To determine the Young's Modulus of the material of a given wire

6 5
using Searle's apparatus.

To determine the coefficient of viscosity of a given liquid using

7 8
Stokes' method.

To determine the surface tension of water by the capillary rise

8 11
method.

9 To determine the speed of sound in air using a resonance tube. 13

Experiment Index Page 1

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Experiment No. 5
Verify the Parallelogram Law of Forces

AIM

To verify the Parallelogram Law of Forces using a force table.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

• Force table
• Two pulleys
• Weight hangers
• Slotted weights
• Thread
• Drawing sheet
• Scale
• Protractor
• Pencil

THEORY

The Parallelogram Law of Forces states that if two forces acting simultaneously at a point are
represented in magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then
their resultant is represented by the diagonal of the parallelogram passing through the point.

PROCEDURE

1. Fix two pulleys on the force table at the required angles.

2. Pass three threads through the pulleys and tie them together at the center with a small
ring.
3. Hang known weights on two threads to produce two forces.

4. Adjust the third weight until the ring remains exactly at the center (equilibrium).

5. Note the magnitudes of the three forces and the angle between the first two forces.

6. Draw the two forces to scale and complete the parallelogram.

7. Measure the diagonal to obtain the resultant.

8. Compare the graphical resultant with the equilibrant obtained experimentally.

OBSERVATION TABLE

Experiment 5 Verify the Parallelogram Law of Forces Page 2

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Angle
Force F₁ Force F₂ Experimental
[Link]. between F₁ &
(N) (N) Resultant (N)
F₂ (θ)

1 1.0 1.0 60° 1.73

2 1.5 1.0 90° 1.80

3 2.0 1.5 60° 3.05

CALCULATIONS

Error = Experimental Resultant − Graphical Resultant

Example (Observation 1):
Error = 1.73 − 1.70 = 0.03 N

RESULT

The Parallelogram Law of Forces is verified within the limits of

experimental error.

PRECAUTIONS

1. Ensure the pulleys rotate freely.

2. The threads should be light and inextensible.

3. The central ring should remain exactly at the center before taking readings.

4. Read the angles carefully using a protractor.

5. Avoid jerks while placing the weights.

Experiment 5 Verify the Parallelogram Law of Forces Page 3

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Experiment No. 6
Determine the Young's Modulus of the Material
of a Given Wire Using Searle's Apparatus

AIM

To determine the Young's Modulus of the material of a given wire using Searle's apparatus.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

• Searle's apparatus
• Meter scale
• Screw gauge
• Slotted weights with hanger
• Spirit level
• Given wire

FORMULA

Young's Modulus, Y = MgL / (πr² Δl)

Where: M = Load applied (kg), g = Acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), L = Length of
the wire (m), r = Radius of the wire (m), Δl = Extension in the wire (m)

OBSERVATION TABLE

(A) Measurement of Diameter of Wire (Screw Gauge)

[Link]. Diameter (mm)

1 0.52

2 0.51

3 0.52

4 0.51

5 0.52

Mean Diameter (d) = 0.516 mm Radius (r) = 0.258 mm = 0.000258 m

(B) Length of Wire

Quantity Value

Length of wire (L) 2.0 m

Experiment 6Determine the Young's Modulus of the Material<br/>of a Given Wire Using Searle's Apparatus Page 4
PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

(C) Extension of Wire

Load (kg) Extension (mm)

0.5 0.19

1.0 0.38

1.5 0.57

2.0 0.76

2.5 0.95

CALCULATIONS

Mean diameter = 0.516 mm

Radius = 0.258 mm = 0.000258 m
Length = 2.0 m
Taking load = 2.5 kg
Extension = 0.95 mm = 0.00095 m
Substituting in the formula:

Y = MgL / (πr² Δl)

Young's Modulus ≈ 2.0 × 10¹¹ N/m²

RESULT

The Young's Modulus of the material of the given wire is approximately

2.0 × 10¹¹ N/m².

PRECAUTIONS

1. The wire should be free from bends and kinks.

2. Read the spirit level carefully without parallax error.

3. Apply the load gradually.

4. Measure the diameter at different places and take the mean value.

5. Remove the load slowly after completing the experiment.

Experiment 6Determine the Young's Modulus of the Material<br/>of a Given Wire Using Searle's Apparatus Page 5
PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Experiment No. 7
Determination of the Coefficient of Viscosity
of a Liquid by Stokes' Method

AIM

To determine the coefficient of viscosity of a given liquid using Stokes' method.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

• A tall glass cylinder

• Glycerine (or other viscous liquid)
• Small steel balls
• Screw gauge
• Metre scale
• Stopwatch
• Magnet
• Beaker
• Thermometer

THEORY

When a small sphere falls through a viscous liquid, it experiences three forces:

1. Weight of the sphere (downward)

2. Upthrust due to the liquid (upward)

3. Viscous force (upward)

After some time, the sphere attains terminal velocity. According to Stokes' law,

η = 2r²g(ρₛ − ρₗ) / 9v

Where: η = Coefficient of viscosity, r = Radius of the sphere, g = 9.8 m/s², ρₛ = Density

of the sphere, ρₗ = Density of the liquid, v = Terminal velocity of the sphere

PROCEDURE

1. Measure the diameter of the steel ball using a screw gauge.

2. Calculate its radius.

3. Fill the glass cylinder with glycerine.

Experiment 7 Determination of the Coefficient of Viscosity<br/>of a Liquid by Stokes' Method Page 6

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

4. Mark two points a known distance apart.

5. Drop the steel ball gently into the liquid.

6. Start the stopwatch when the ball crosses the first mark and stop it at the second mark.

7. Repeat the experiment three times.

8. Calculate the average time and terminal velocity.

9. Use the formula to calculate the coefficient of viscosity.

OBSERVATION TABLE

(A) Measurement of Diameter

Trial Diameter (mm) Radius (mm)

1 3.00 1.50

2 3.02 1.51

3 3.01 1.50

Mean 3.01 1.50

(B) Time of Fall — Distance between marks = 40 cm

Trial Distance (cm) Time (s) Velocity (cm/s)

1 40 10.2 3.92

2 40 10.0 4.00

3 40 10.1 3.96

Average 40 10.1 3.96

CALCULATIONS

Mean radius = 1.50 mm

Average time = 10.1 s
Terminal velocity = 3.96 cm/s
(Substitute the measured values in Stokes' formula to calculate the coefficient of
viscosity.)

RESULT

The coefficient of viscosity of the given liquid determined by Stokes'

method is __________ Pa·s.

PRECAUTIONS

1. The steel ball should be released gently without any push.

Experiment 7 Determination of the Coefficient of Viscosity<br/>of a Liquid by Stokes' Method Page 7

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

2. The ball should not touch the sides of the cylinder.

3. The liquid should be free from air bubbles.

4. Measure time accurately using a stopwatch.

5. Take multiple readings and calculate the average.

SOURCES OF ERROR

1. Error in measuring the diameter of the ball.

2. Human reaction time while using the stopwatch.

3. Air bubbles in the liquid.

4. Parallax error while observing the marks.

Experiment 7 Determination of the Coefficient of Viscosity<br/>of a Liquid by Stokes' Method Page 8

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Experiment No. 8
Surface Tension of Water by Capillary Rise Method

AIM

To determine the surface tension of water by the capillary rise method.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

• Capillary tube
• Beaker containing water
• Travelling microscope
• Meter scale
• Thermometer
• Stand

FORMULA

T=rhρg/2

Where: T = Surface tension (N/m), r = Radius of capillary tube (m), h = Height of capillary
rise (m), ρ = Density of water (1000 kg/m³), g = Acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)

OBSERVATION TABLE

(A) Diameter of Capillary Tube

[Link]. Diameter (mm)

1 0.60

2 0.61

3 0.60

4 0.59

5 0.60

Mean Diameter (d) = 0.60 mm Radius (r) = 0.30 mm = 0.00030 m

(B) Capillary Rise

Experiment 8 Surface Tension of Water by Capillary Rise Method Page 9

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Initial Reading
Trial Final Reading (cm) Rise, h (cm)
(cm)

1 2.10 7.00 4.90

2 2.08 6.98 4.90

3 2.12 7.02 4.90

Mean Capillary Rise (h) = 4.90 cm = 0.049 m

(C) Constant Values

Quantity Value

Density of water (ρ) 1000 kg/m³

Acceleration due to gravity (g) 9.8 m/s²

CALCULATIONS

Radius of tube, r = 0.00030 m

Mean capillary rise, h = 0.049 m
Using the formula:

T=rhρg/2
T = (0.00030 × 0.049 × 1000 × 9.8) / 2
Surface Tension, T ≈ 0.072 N/m

RESULT

The surface tension of water by the capillary rise method is found to be T

≈ 0.072 N/m (72 × 10⁻³ N/m).

PRECAUTIONS

1. The capillary tube should be clean and dry.

2. The tube should be held vertically.

3. Avoid parallax error while taking microscope readings.

4. Use distilled water for accurate results.

5. Ensure there are no air bubbles inside the capillary tube.

Experiment 8 Surface Tension of Water by Capillary Rise Method Page 10

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

Experiment No. 9
Speed of Sound in Air by Resonance Tube Method

AIM

To determine the speed of sound in air using a resonance tube.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

• Resonance tube apparatus

• Tuning fork (known frequency)
• Water reservoir
• Metre scale
• Rubber hammer

THEORY

When a vibrating tuning fork is held above the resonance tube, resonance occurs at certain
lengths of the air column. At resonance, the sound is maximum.

FORMULA

Speed of sound, v = 2f (L₂ − L₁)

Where: v = Speed of sound (m/s), f = Frequency of tuning fork (Hz), L₁ = First resonance
length (m), L₂ = Second resonance length (m)

OBSERVATION TABLE

Frequency of Tuning Fork = 512 Hz

First Resonance Second Resonance

[Link]. L₂ − L₁ (cm)
Length L₁ (cm) Length L₂ (cm)

1 16.5 49.8 33.3

2 16.7 50.0 33.3

3 16.6 49.9 33.3

CALCULATIONS

Average speed of sound:

Experiment 9 Speed of Sound in Air by Resonance Tube Method Page 11

PHYSICS PRACTICAL FILE CBSE Class XI | 2026-27

v = (341 + 341 + 341) ÷ 3

v = 341 m/s

RESULT

The speed of sound in air determined by the resonance tube method is

341 m/s (approximately).

PRECAUTIONS

1. Hold the tuning fork vertically above the mouth of the tube.

2. Strike the tuning fork gently with a rubber hammer.

3. Take readings only when the sound is maximum.

4. Read the water level carefully to avoid parallax error.

5. Repeat observations and calculate the average value.

Experiment 9 Speed of Sound in Air by Resonance Tube Method Page 12