Expt. No.
In this experiment, you will determine the mass of a metre rule using
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3.1 the principle of moments.
You have been provided with
• a metre rule with a hole at the 1.0 cm mark,
• a knife-edge to act as a pivot in (a),
• a rod held in a boss to act as a pivot in (b),
• a pulley wheel held in a clamp and stand,
• a length of string with two loops,
• a mass and hook, labelled S,
• a card showing m, the mass of S,
• a half-metre rule,
• a set square.
(a) Balance the metre rule on the knife-edge and record the distance d of the centre of mass of the metre
rule from the 0.0 cm mark on the rule.
d = .......................................... [1]
(b) Set up the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1.
Pass the rod through the hole at the 1.0 cm mark on the rule. Place the loop at one end of the string over
the rule at the 60.0 cm mark on the rule. Place the string over the pulley and suspend the mass S from the
loop at the other end of the string using the hook. Initially, end B of the metre rule rests on the bench.
Move the loop along the metre rule towards end B. Keep the length PQ of the string vertical by moving
the pulley horizontally. Eventually end B of the metre rule rises off the bench.
Adjust the positions of the loop and the pulley to make the rule horizontal and the string PQ vertical.
(c) Explain how you made sure that the string PQ is vertical. You may add to Fig. 1.1 if you wish.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) Measure and record
(i) the distance x from the centre of the rod to the centre of mass of the metre rule,
x = ...............................................
(ii) the distance y from the centre of the rod to the position of the string on the metre rule.
y = ...............................................[2]
(e) Calculate the mass M of the rule using the relationship
Where m is the mass of S, and is written on the card.
M = .......................................... [1]
[Total: 5]
Expt. No. In this experiment, you will determine the time for one oscillation of a
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4.2 simple pendulum.
You have been provided with
• a simple pendulum,
• a metre rule,
• a stopwatch,
• a pin in a cork.
(a) The apparatus shown in Fig. 2.1 has been set up for you.
Measure the length l of the simple pendulum from the base of the split cork to the centre of the pendulum
bob.
l = .......................................... [1]
(b) Place the pin so that it marks the central position of the pendulum bob when it is stationary, as shown
in Fig. 2.1. When the pendulum bob is pulled to the side and released, it moves from side to side. One
complete oscillation of the pendulum bob is from O to A to B and back to O, as shown in Fig. 2.2.
(i) The time for 20 complete oscillations of the bob is t. Take measurements to determine an accurate
value of t.
t = ...............................................
(ii) Calculate the time T for one oscillation.
T = ...............................................[2]
(c) Calculate a value for the acceleration of free fall g, using the relationship
Give a unit for your answer.
g = .......................................... [2]
[Total: 5]