Diagram:
Observation and Tabular column
To find the Period of Oscillation:
Length of the suspension wire between the two chucks ‘L’= ×10-2m
Time for10 oscillations (second)
S. No Position of equal Time for
masses one
Trial I Trial II Mean oscillation
(second)
1 Without masses
T0=
With masses at
2 T1=
distance d1=
-2
×10 m
With masses at
3 T2=
distance d2=
×10-2m
1
Expt. No: DETERMINATION OF RIGIDITY MODULUS – Date:
TORSION PENDULUM
Aim of the experiment
To determine the moment of inertia (I) of a circular disk about its axis of suspension by the
method of torsional oscillations and hence determine the rigidity modulus (n) of the material of the
wire .
Apparatus required
Circular disk with chuck, given wire, stop clock, screw gauge, symmetrical object, meter
scale.
Formula
(i) Moment of inertia of the disc
(ii) Rigidity modulus of the material of the wire
8𝜋 𝑰 𝐿
𝑛= 𝑁⁄𝑚2
𝑇𝑂2 𝑟 4
Formula Expansion:
Symbol Expansion Unit
m Mass of one symmetrical mass kg
d1 Closest distance between the suspension wire and the
center of symmetrical mass m
d2 Farthest distance between the suspension wire and the m
center of symmetrical mass
T0 Time period without mass second
Time period of the disc when symmetrical masses are
T1 placed at a distance d1 from the suspension wire second
Time period of the disc when symmetrical masses are second
T2 placed at a distance d2 from the suspension wire
L m
Length of the suspension wire between the two chucks.
r m
Radius of the suspension wire
2
To find the radius of the suspension wire using screw gauge (r):
Least count = 0.01 mm Zero error (ZE) = div
Zero correction (ZC) = (ZE×LC) mm Zero correction (ZC) = mm
Total
PSR HSC CHSR= Reading =
CHSC
S. No (CHSC×L.C) (PSR + CHSR)
×10-3m (div) (div) ×10-3m ×10-3m
Mean diameter (d) = ×10-3m
Mean radius ‘r’= (d/2) = ×10-3m
Calculation
Mass of either of one symmetrical object ‘m’ = ×10-3Kg
Closest distance between the suspension wire and
the center of symmetrical object ‘d1 = ×10-2m
Farthest distance between the suspension wire and
the center of symmetrical object ‘d2’ = ×10-2m
Time period without mass ‘T0’ = second
Time period of the disc when symmetrical object are placed at a distance d1
‘T1’ = second
Time period of the disc when symmetrical object are placed at a distance d2
‘T2’= second
Length of the suspension wire between the two chucks ‘L’ = ×10-2m
Radius of the suspension wire ‘r’ = ×10-3m
3
Procedure
The torsional pendulum consists of a circular disc suspended by a thin uniform wire
whose rigidity modulus is to be determined. The top end of the wire is fixed firmly to the vertical
chuck fixed to a support. The lower end of the wire is held in a similar chuck provided at the
center of the disc as shown in the diagram.
The wire is adjusted to a suitable length. A vertical chuck mark is made on the side of the
disc when it is at rest, as a reference. The disc is then rotated about its center through a small
angle and left free. It is found that the disc makes rotational oscillations with the wire of the axis.
After the first few oscillations, just as the mark passes the equilibrium position, a stop
clock is started. The time taken for 10 complete oscillations is determined. The experiment is
repeated and the mean period, T0 of oscillation is determined without any of the identical objects
on the disc. Then the two identical objects are placed symmetrically on either side of the
suspension wire as close as possible. The period T1 is then determined in the same manner. The
distance d1 between the center of the mass and the suspension of the wire is measured. Next, the
objects are arranged symmetrically as far away from the axis of rotation as possible, and the
period T2 is found. The distance d2 between the center of the mass and the suspension of the
wire is measured.
The length of the wire between the two chucks L is measured. The mean radius r of the wire is
found accurately by a screw gauge. The mass m of each of the identical objects is determined
with a common balance. From these readings the moment of inertia (I) of the disc and the
rigidity modulus (n) of the wire is calculated by using the above mentioned earlier relations.
4
Calculation
The moment of inertia (I) of the disc
5
8𝜋 𝑰 𝐿
The rigidity modulus (n) of the wire 𝑛= 𝑁⁄𝑚2
𝑇𝑂2 𝑟 4
Result
(i) The moment of inertia of the disc is found to be I= Kg m2
(ii) The rigidity modulus of the material of the given wire is found to be n = N/m2