PEKA 1 : Relationship between Inertia and mass.

Problem Statement
What is the relationship between inertia and mass ?
Inference Inertia is dependent upon mass
Aim To study the relationship between inertia and mass using an inertial balance
Variables
(a) Manipulated : mass, m
(b) Responding : Period for 20 oscillations, 20T
(c) Fixed : Amplitude of oscillation
Hypothesis When the mass increases , inertia increases
Apparatus
Hacksaw Blade, G-Clamp , stop watch, workbench, Triple Beam Balance
Materials
Plasticine, Plasticine Mass X
Operational Definition of Variables
Inertia : The tendency of an object to resist motion is represented by the the period of
oscillation
Diagram of Apparatus

Procedure
1. Arrange an inertia balance as shown in the diagram.
2. Clamp the hacksaw blade tightly and horizontally onto the workbench legs
3. Place a lump of plasticine with a mass of 30g at the free end of the hacksaw
blade
4. Displace the hacksaw blade slightly from the horizontal equilibrium position
and release it so that it oscillates horizontally
5. Determine and record the time taken for 20 complete oscillations, t1. Repeat the
procedure with the same mass for another reading t2.
6. Repeat procedure 4 & 5 using plasticine with mass of 40g, 60g, 80g, 100g &
120g. (You can use your own values)
7. An unknown mass of plasticine will be given by your Physics teacher.
8. Place the unknown mass of plasticine on to the blade and find the time taken for 20
oscillation
Table of Results

Graphs
Plot a graph of time for 20 oscillation against mass, m
Find the unknown mass X from your graph by showing clearly how this is
accomplished

Discussion
1. What is the relationship between the time taken for 20 oscillation and inertia
2. From the graph, state the relationship between time taken for 20 oscillation and
mass of object
3. State the relationship between inertia of an object and mass of object
4. Mass of X : _____________

Conclusion
1. The time for 20 oscillation indicates the inertia of an object
2. The bigger the time for 20 oscillation (20T), the bigger is the inertia
3. The bigger the mass of an object, the bigger is the inertia

Precaution
The time taken for 20 complete oscillation was taken twice to reduce random
error.