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GROUP 1
CLASS E
GROUP MEMBERS
1. IFEANYI NDUKWE 20751
AIM: To determine the moment of inertia of a horizontal rectangular drop bar about
its center of mass using the bifilar suspension technique.
INTRODUCTION
The apparatus used for this experiment consists of a uniform rectangular drop
bar suspended by fine wires (assumed to have negligible weight contribution
to the system). This rectangular bar contains holes equidistant from each
other and two extra with equal masses of 1.85kg, are made to peg through
these holes. Chucks are also in place to alter length of suspended wires.
Suspended
cord
Rectangular
bar
1.85Kg
Chuck
b
L
mg
x
G
PROCEDURE
1. With the bar suspended by the wires, the length L was adjusted to a
convenient extent and then distance, b, between the wires was measured.
2. The bar was then tilted through a very small angle about the vertical axis
and time taken for 20 oscillations of the bar, was recorded. From this, the
periodic time was also calculated.
3. The length L was further adjusted and the time taken for another 20
oscillations was recorded.
4. The inertia of the rectangular bar was then increased by including the
two 1.85kg masses symmetrically on either side of the centerline
distance x apart.
5. Then step 3 was repeated but with different values of L
6. The length of the wire L was then fixed at a value and the time taken was
recorded for 20 oscillations at varying distances x, between the two
1.85kg masses.
7. The rectangular bar was then detached from the apparatus arrangement
and taken to weight balance in order to determine the mass of the bar.
8. The internal diameters of the holes, the thickness of the rectangular were
also measured.
9. All measurements and data recorded were collated for experimental
analysis.
THEORY
THE GOVERNING EQUATION (THE EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS)
I d 2 mg b 2
2
= ------------ (1)
dt 4L
2 2
d mg b
2
+ =0 ------------- (2) (dividing through by the moment of inertia, I)
dt I4 L
2
Note that, I =m k (where k is the radius of gyration and m is mass of the bar)
+ g b2
=0 ------------- (3)
4k2L
=
g b2
4 k2 L
Where is the angular velocity of the bar.
2
Also T = where T is the periodic time.
Therefore;
T =4
k2 L
g b2
Also;
T =4
IL
mg b2 ---------- (4) (Since; I =m k
2
)
However, Introduction of the two equal masses into the bifilar suspension system
can gives rise to a modification of its mechanism and the equation of the angular
motion. This also provides another approach to the determination of the moment of
inertia of the body. In this situation the length of the wires are kept constant and the
distances between the two equal masses are varied. This is called the auxiliary
mass method but for this experiment, our analysis would be on just the
generic bifilar suspension approach. Nonetheless, a description of its angular
motion is enumerated below;
( I +2 I . m )d 2 ( m+ 2 M )g b 2
= ---------- (5)
dt2 4L
I . m , is the moment of inertia of the body is added and M is the mass of each
body added.
1
I . m= M r 2 + M x2
2
{r is the radius of the mass (it has a circular cross-section) and x is the distance
between the centre of the bar and this mass)
+ ( m+2 M )
g b 2
(I +2 I . m)
=0
4L
Following the same approach from the previous period derivation, the new periodic
time (inclusive of the new masses) becomes;
L
(I +2 I . m)
g b2 ------------ (6)
T . m=4
(m+ 2 M )
The general approach for calculating the moment inertia of any type of body about
any axis on the body is given as:
2 2
I = R dm= m R
Whereby individual moments of inertia from individual differential mass value m
and distance X between the axis point and the object are summed up and its
summations gives rise to the final moment of inertia of that body.
For a solid object with a rectangular cross-section, the same general approach gave
rise to determination of the moment of inertia about its centre of mass G and this is
expressed as;
M l2
Is= ---------------- (7)
12
Since the rectangular bar has bored holes within it, therefore its moment of inertia
is;
Where Mo is the mass of the hole bored, Ro is the radius of each hole bored and X
is the distance from each hole (on either side) to the centre of the rectangular bar.
Note the there are 15 holes bored, hence its introduction in equation (8)
M l2 1
I=
12 2 ( )
[15 Mo { R o2 +2 X 2 }] ----------- (9)
X2
15 Ro2 t
M L2 --------------- (10)
I=
12
TABLE OF RESULTS
Basic Parameter Information;
= k (m)
t (from
X I = mk2
Test L (m) t (s) 20 equatio k2 (m) m (kg)
(m) (kgm2)
n
(s) above)
1 0.3 - 13.54 0.677 0.148 0.0219 1.4 0.0306
2 0.4 - 15.38 0.769 0.145 0.0212 1.4 0.0296
L X t
Test t (s) 20
(m) (m)
(s)
0.35
1 0.4 16.59 0.689
5
0.30
2 0.4 14.72 0.765
5
0.25
3 0.4 13.26 0.929
5
0.20
4 0.4 11.77 1.103
5
*Note: the extra parameters are not included in this table 3 because the radius of
gyration and moment of inertia are to be determined with the auxiliary mass
method but we are streamlined to work with the generic bifilar suspension equation
of angular motion.
T 2 =16 2
( mgbIL )
2
Invariably, T2 can be plotted against L , whereby the slope can be used to
I
determined the moment of inertia, I. i.e. the slope =
16 2
( mg b2 ) . Since m g and
T T2 L
0.689 0.4747 0.3
0.765 0.5852 0.4
0.929 0.8630 0.5
1.103 1.2166 0.6
T2 versus L graph
1.4
1.2
f(x) = 0.3x
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.30000000000000027 0.4 0.5 0.60000000000000053
Therefore,
16 2
0.303= I
mg b2
16 2
0.303= I
5.19.810.48 2
I=0.0221 kg m2
Therefore,
X2
1578500.0050.012
1.40. 5082
I=
12
I =0.01068 kg m2
PRECAUTION(S)
1. Measurement taken from the rule and the weight balance was done such that
the line of sight and the markings of the measuring equipments were in
alignment in to reduce errors due to parallax.
2. When taking down the time for the oscillations at various distances x and a
fixed length L for table 3 data, the length L was periodically checked after
each test in order to maintain the fixed length value of 0.4m
3. Precautionary methods were in place to keep the masses at a very
comfortable position so as to avoid slip or fall which could in-turn cause harm
to our feet.
4. The experiment is done such that the oscillation was not dampened by
carefully tilting the bar before release for oscillations
CONCLUSIONS
OBSERVATION(S):
1. The periodic time significantly increased when the length of the wires also go
increased.
2. The periodic time also increased when the distances between the masses
added to system reduced
3. The moment of inertia determined using the analytical approach was
approximately equal to the value determined from test 2 in table 2 above.
4. The moment of inertia determined from the graph representation was greater
than the value gotten from the analytical approach indicating that the two
masses added during the experiment had a part to play in the increment of
the moment of inertia and also unavoidable human errors caused a variation
in their values.
5. The radius of gyration and moment of inertia reduced after the length of wire
was increased from test 1 to test 2 but increased right after till test 4.
FINAL DEDUCTIONS: