RIGIDITY MODULUS
AIM: To Determine The Rigidity Modulus Of The Material Of A Wire By The Dynamic
Method.
WORKING PRINCIPLE:
When a solid metallic cylinder is suspended by means of a wire (weight of the wire being
negligible compared to that of the body) and is allowed to make torsional oscillations about the
axis of suspension, then Rigidity Modulus of the wire is
G = 4πMR2 L
a4 T02
where ‘M’ mass of a solid metallic cylinder in kg.
‘R’ radius of the cylinder in cm.
a radius of cross-section of the wire in cm
L length of the wire in cm.
T0 time period of torsional oscillation of the cylinder in sec.
Plotting T02 along y-axis and L along x-axis we get a straight line passing through the origin.
L and T02 are taken from the graph.
In C.G.S system unit of G is dyne/cm2, in S.I. unit, G can be expressed in N/m2
APPARATUS USED:
A steel wire loaded with a cylinder at one end, which can perform torsional oscillations.
A meter scale.
A stopwatch.
A screw gauge and a thread.
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:
Table 1 (a) Readings for the least count of the screw gauge
Number of circular scale divisions
Value of one smallest linear scale division in
cm
Pitch of the screw(p) in cm
Least count = p/n in cm
Instrumental Error in cm
(b): Readings for the radius of the Experimental wire by screw gauge
No. Main scale Circular Total Reading Mean Correcte Radius
of Reading scale T = M+(C x l.c) diamete d a = d/2
Obs (M) Reading cm r diameter (cm)
(cm) (C) (d) cm (d)
in cm
1
Table 2(a): Readings for the vernier constant of the slide callipers
1 Main Scale Division =………. cm
10 vernier scale division = 9 main scale division
1 ″ ″ ″ = 9/10 ″ ″ ″
1 vernier constant = 1 M.S.D – 1 V.S.D
= (1 – 9/10) M.S.D
= 1/10 M.S.D
=………. cm
(b) Determination of the radius of the cylinder
No. Readings of the Diameter Mean Instrumental Corrected Radius(R)=
of b Error (cm) b (cm) b/2
obs. (cm) (cm)
Main Vernier Total
Scale Scale Reading(b)
M(cm) (V) (M+[Link])
cm
Table 3 : Readings For The Length(L) Of The Wire And The Corresponding Time
Period(t)
No. Length(L) Of No. Of Time(t) For Time Period To2
Of The Oscillations n To = t/n (sec2)
Obs Wire (cm) (n) Oscillations (sec)
(sec)
1
2
3
4
5
Graph:
Table 4: Consolidated Results To Calculate Rigidity Modulus(G) From Graph
From To2 vs Mass Of The Radius Of The Radius Of Rigidity Modulus
L Graph Cylinder(supplied Cylinder The G = (4πMR2 L) /a4To2
) (R) From Experimental in
L in To2 in (kg) Table 2b (cm) Wire Dyne/cm 2
N/m2
Cm sec2 From Table
1b (cm)
SHOW CALCULATIONS: G = 4πMR2 L N/m2
a4 T02
PERCENTAGE ERROR: ( Show Calculation)
Percentage Error = 100%
PRECAUTIONS:
1. In the expression for ‘G’, the radius of the wire appears in the fourth power. So, extreme
care should be taken while calculating ‘a’, as a small error in the determination of ‘a’ will
result in a large deviation of the value of ‘G’.
2. Ensure that during oscillation of the cylinder, the axis of both the cylinder and the wire
should be the same so that the suspension axis passes through the C.G. of the body.
3. The suspended system should be twisted by small angles for torsional oscillations.
PROCEDURE
1. Measure the diameter of the wire by means of a screw gauge at three different places
along the entire length of the wire taking two readings at right angles at each place.
2. Twist the cylinder through an angle of about 5o and allow it to oscillate about the axis of
suspension.
3. Start a stopwatch and measure the time for 20 oscillations.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for different lengths of the wire.
5. Determine the circumference of the cylinder by means of a thread and a meter scale and
hence calculate its radius.
6. Plot a graph with ‘L’ along the y-axis and ‘To2’ along the x-axis. The graph will be a
straight line passing through the origin.
7. Calculate the value of ‘G’ from the working formula.
Discussion:
NATURE OF GRAPH