Name: Daniel Kelly

Lab: #5

Date: November 26, 2018

Title: Parallelogram Law

Aim: (a) To find the weight of a given body using the parallelogram law of vectors.

(b) To determine the relative density of solid and liquid.

Apparatus/Materials: stone, paper, stone, oil, water, beaker, air, flashlight, pencil, string

Diagram:

Theory: If two forces (vectors) acting simultaneously at a point are represented in magnitude

and direction by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then their resultant is represent in

magnitude and direction, by the diagonal of the parallelogram passing through the point of

intersection of the two forces.

If a third force W is so applied at the point of intersection of the above two forces that the

common point of application of all the forces is in equilibrium, then the third force is equal

in magnitude but opposite in direction to the sum of the other two forces. This force is called

the equilibrant force.

Let P and Q be the magnitudes of two forces acting at a point and be the angle between

them. Let R and be the magnitudes of their resultant and equilibrant, then =R=

Procedure: A sheet of paper is fixed on the drawing board using four drawing pins. A thread

of appropriate length, carrying two weight hangers at its ends, is passed over the pulleys.

Slotted weights are added in the weight hangers, as required. Another thread is tied to the

first, at the point O, between the two pulleys. The given solid whose weight is to be

determined, is suspended at the end of this string. Care is taken to see that the weights do

not touch the wooden board, but hangs freely. The body is pulled down a little and released

to eliminate the friction at the pulleys.

The weights P and Q are adjusted so that the knot is near the middle of the paper. When

the forces are in equilibrium, the position O of the knot is marked on the paper, just

underneath it, using a fine pencil. The directions OX, OY, OZ of the strings are also are

marked on the paper (to mark the direction of a string correctly, a mirror strip is placed just

below it and adjust the eye so that, there is no parallax between the string and its image. Then

mark the two points at the edges of the mirror strip where the image of the string leaves the

mirror). The weights P and Q on the weight hangers (including the weight of the hangers) are

noted.

The paper is removed from the board. The three pairs of points marked on the paper are

joined and extended to meet at the point O. The three lines thus obtained represent the

directions of the forces acting at the pint O.

Choosing a CONVENIENT SCALE, the forces P and Q are represented by OA and OB along

OX and OY respectively. The parallelogram OADB is completed and the diagonal OD is

drawn. Then the parallelogram of law of forces, OD gives the resultant of P and Q in

magnitude and direction. Since the system is in equilibrium, the resultant of P an Q is equal
and opposite to third force (equilibrant), namely the weight of the body. The diagonal OD is

measured and the weight of the given body is found by multiplying OD with the scale used.

The weight obtained above is also verified by using the equation W= , where - is the angle

between the forces P and Q = . The experiment is repeated varying the values of the

weights P and Q and the average weight of the body is determined.

To find the relative density of the given solid (unknown mass) and liquid (oil), the

above procedure is repeated using the same unknown mass in water and oil.

Results:
Body in Trial p/g wt Q/g wt OA/cm OB/cm Diagonal Unkown wt. mean

OD/cm W=OD* scale

Air 1. 100 100 8 8 11.25 W1= 1.406

1.3695
2. 200 200 6 6 4 W= 1.333

Water 1 100 100 5 5 2.1 W2= 0.42

0.51

2 200 200 6 6 1.8 W=0.6

Oil 1 100 100 3 3 2.25 W3= 0.75

0.8585

2.
200 200 6 6 2.9 W=0.967

Table showing results

Verification with equation

Body trial Force,P/gf Force,Q/gf <XOY=𝜃 mean

W=
in

air 1 1 1 90 W1 = 1.414 1.358

2 2 2 142 W= 1.302

water 1 1 1 156 W2= 0.4158

2 2 2 165 W=0.5912 0.5035

Oil 1 1 1 135 W3= 0.7653

2 2 2 152 W=0.9677 0.8665

Wt. Of body in air W1= (1.3695+1.358) / 2 = 1.36

Wt. Of body in water W2= (0.51+ 0.5035) / 2 = 0.51

Wt. Of boy in liquid W3= (0.8585+ 0.8665) / 2 = 0.86

Relative density of solid = W1 / (W1-W2)= 1.36/(1.36-0.51)= 1.36/0.85= 1.6

Relative density of liquid = W1-W3 / (W1- W2)= (1.36- 0.86)/ (1.36- 0.51)= 0.5/ 0.85= 0.59

Sources of error: 1.) random error: caused due to poor lighting in lab room

Precautions: 1.) Ensure that a flash light is used in order for a clear and undaunted shadow to
be formed on the sheet of paper.

Conclusion: Experiment was carried out successfully and the relative densities of solid and
liquid were calculated to be 1.6 and 0.59 respectively.