Roll No : ________________ Total Marks:________

Aim: To find the radius of gyration of a JHARANA (used in Kitchen)

Material used: Jharana, potato, matchstick, scale, red paint, jug,
toothpick, mobile phone,
(a) Find CM (Centre of Mass).
Method:
1. First, I balanced the Jharana on my finger to find the
approximate location of CM.
(pic – P 1 & P 2)
2. To get more exact values of (X, Y, Z) coordinates of CM, I
balanced the jharana on a matchstick firmly inserted inside a
potato. I put red paint on the top end of matchstick to get the
mark of CM on jharana. Measurements gave me the X and Y
coordinates of CM
(pic P 3)
I noticed that the CM is not in the centre of the width, it is
shifted to one side as shown in the final drawing (pic P 6)
3. To verify the finding, I balanced the jharana on the toothpick
from the reverse side. Again, by putting red paint on the top
end of matchstick, I got the mark of CM on jharana.
Measurements gave me a second set of values for the x and y
coordinates of CM
(pic P 4)
4. I tried to get a still more exact location of CM by balancing it on
the pointed edge of a toothpick but failed as the jharana was
slipping. This made me realise that centre of mass was shifted
along the width on the curved part of the long steel handle.
5. CM of jharana also has a Z-coordinate due to the curvature in
its structure. (pic P 5)
 I could not think of a method to find the z coordinate.

Observations & Measurements:

1. Least count of the scale used = 0.1 cm
2. Measurements for location of CM
For origin, please see pic P 6
A. Table for X coordinate
S.No. Scale Scale Difference Mean X Mean
readin reading x = r2 - r1 coordinate value of X
g on on the (cm) For a given coordinate
left location orientation of CM
edge of of CM (cm) (cm)
handle r2(cm)
r1(cm)
For Jharana orientation 1 (as in pic P 3)
1. 1.0 24.5 x1 = 23.5
2. 2.0 25.5 x2 = 23.5 X1 = 23.5
3. 5.0 28.5 x3 = 23.5
For Jharana orientation 2 (as in pic P 4)
4. 1.0 24.5 x4 = 23.5 4.
5. 3.0 26.5 x5 = 23.5 X2 = 23.5 5.
6. 5.0 28.5 x6 = 23.5
Mean value of X coordinate of CM = 23.5 ±0.1 cm
B. Table for Y coordinate
S.No. Scale Scale Difference Mean Y Mean
readin reading y = r2 - r1 coordinate value of Y
g on on the (cm) For a given coordinate
left location orientation of CM
edge of of CM (cm) (cm)
handle r2(cm)
r1(cm)
For Jharana orientation 1 (as in pic P 3)
1. 1.0 1.65 y1 = 0.65 Y1 = 0.65
2. 2.0 2.65 y2 = 0.65
3. 5.0 5.65 y3 = 0.65
For Jharana orientation 2 (as in pic P 4)
4. 1.0 1.65 y4 = 0.65 Y2 = 0.65 7.
5. 3.0 3.65 y5 = 0.65 8.
6. 5.0 5.65 y6 = 0.65
Mean value of Y coordinate of CM = 0.65 ±0.1 cm

Note: Even though the least count of the scale is 0.1 cm but still
the value of Y coordinate has been expressed till second
decimal place because I could observe it lies between 0.6 and
0.7 cm.

C. Measurement for Z coordinate

Even though exact location of Z -coordinate could not be
ascertained but I got a range for it by measuring the depth of
the curved steel part of the handle. (pic P 7)
 Value of Z-coordinate of CM < 0.26 ±0.1 cm

Result: Location of CM w.r.t. the origin chosen:

(23.5, 0.26, <0.26) ±0.1 cm

(b) Suspend the Jharana from a hole and oscillate it in a vertical

plane. Measure the time period.
Method:
A. Ref to Pic P 8. For a rigid support, the sharp end of a wooden tooth
pick was fixed in place by keeping it under a heavy water filled steel
jug on my kitchen slab. The Jharna was suspended from point A (see
pic p 6) of the central hole in the round part of jharana, in one of the
grooves on the other end of the toothpick.
It was pulled gently to one side by a small angle and released. At the
same time the stopwatch in the mobile phone was started and time
for 20 oscillations was noted. Attached video shows the time for 20
oscillations being measured.
Time for 20 oscillations was also noted by reversing the curved side
of jharana as shown in pic P 9.

B. Ref to pictures P 10 & P 11. This time jharana was suspended from
the handle side. Same procedure as above was followed to note the
time of 20 oscillations for the two orientations shown.

Observations, Measurements & Calculations:

 1. Least count of the scale used = 0.1 cm
2. Least count of stopwatch of mobile phone = 0.01 s
3. Reaction time in once starting and stopping the stopwatch =
0.15 s

A. Table for measurement of time period for suspension point A

Distance of CM from the point of suspension d = 11.4 cm =
0.114 m (pic P 6)

S.No. Time taken Mean t Time period Radius of

for 20 (s) T = t/20 gyration
oscillations (s)
k =❑√ I / m
t (s)
= T(√gd)/2π

Orientation 1 (pic P 8)
1. 18:01
2. 17:99
3. 17:98
4. 18:02
5. 18:00 k1 = 0.152 m
6. 18:00 t1 =18.00 ± 0.15 T1 = 0.90 ± 0.01 = 15.2 cm
Orientation 2 (pic P 9)
1. 18:00
2. 17:98
3. 17:99
4. 18:02
5. 18:01 k2 = 0.152 m
6. 18:99 t1 =18.00 ± 0.15 T1 = 0.90 ± 0.01 = 15.2 cm
Mean value of k for suspension point A = 15.2 cm

Note: 1. The point of suspension A was not on the central line along
the length of the handle because the hole was not in the centre of
the curved portion of jharana. As a result, the jharana was tilted to
one side as can be seen in pics P 8 & P 9.
9. Error in time measurement was taken equal to the reaction time
and not equal to the least count of stop watch.

For error in k:
K = constant * T √ d
Δk/k = ΔT / T + 0.5 * Δd / d = Δt / t + 0.5 * Δd / d
= 0.15 /18:00 + 0.5 * 0.1 /11.4
= 0.0083 + 0.5 * 0.0088
= 0.0083 + 0.0044 = 0.0127 = 0.013
% error in k = 0.013 * 100 = 1.3 %
Value of k for suspension point A = 15.2 ± 0.013 cm

B. Table for measurement of time period for suspension point B

Distance of CM from the point of suspension d = 22.8 cm =
0.228 m (pic P 6)

S.No. Time taken Mean t Time period Radius of

for 20 (s) T = t/20 gyration
oscillations (s)
k =❑√ I / m
t (s)
 = T(√gd)/2π

Orientation 1 (pic P 10)

1. 21:01
2. 21:00
3. 20:98
4. 21:02
5. 21:00 k1 = 0.248 m
6. 20:99 t1 =21.00 ± 0.15 T1 = 1.05 ± 0.008 = 24.8 cm
Orientation 2 (pic P 11)
1. 21:00
2. 20:98
3. 21:00
4. 21:02
5. 20.99 k2 = 0.248 m
6. 20:99 t1 =21.00 ± 0.15 T1 = 1.05 ± 0.008 = 24.8 cm
Mean value of k for suspension point B = 24.8 cm

Note: The point of suspension B could not be brought on the central

line along the length of the handle even though I tried many times.
The jharana automatically shifted and tilted slightly to one side as
can be seen in pics P 10 & P 11.
For error in k:
K = constant * T √ d
Δk/k = ΔT / T + 0.5 * Δd / d = Δt / t + 0.5 * Δd / d
= 0.15 /21:00 + 0.5 * 0.1 /22.8
= 0.0071 + 0.5 * 0.0044
= 0.0071 + 0.0022 = 0.0093 = 0.009
% error in k = 0.009 * 100 = 0.9 %
Value of k for suspension point B = 24.8 ± 0.009 cm
 (c) Dimension of the Jharana
1. Measurement of total length
Method:
Two ends of the jharana were marked on the floor as points A and
B. Since the scale available was smaller in length, one intermediate
point was also marked on the floor between A and B. Total length
between A and B was measured by shifting the scale.

Least count of scale used = 0.1 cm

Table for length
S.No Scale Scale reading Scale Scale length Mean
. reading on an reading on readin ℓ= length
on left intermediate same g on (r2 - r1) + ℓ(cm)
edge of point intermediate right (r4 – r3)
jharana r2(cm) point on edge of (cm)
r1(cm) (Point shown shifting scale jharan
(Point in pic 13) r3(cm) a
B in Pic r4 (cm)
12) (Point
A in pic
14)
1. 0.0 20.0 0.0 16.2 20.0+16.2
= 36.2 ℓ= 36.2
2. 1.0 21.0 1.0 17.2 20.0+ 16.2
= 36.2
3. 2.0 22.0 2.0 18.2 20.0+ 16.2
= 36.2
Mean length ℓ= 36.2 ± 0.1 cm
% uncertainty in length (Δ ℓ / ℓ)*100 = 0.1 x 100/36.2 = 0.28%

2. Measurement of diameter of the disk

Method:
The outline of the disk of jharana was taken on a paper and
diameters were measured at different places. The diameter at a
location was identified by shifting the scale till it gave the maximum
value

Least count of scale used = 0.1 cm

Table for diameter (pic P 16)
S.No. Scale Scale Diameter Mean
readin reading D= diameter
g on on (r2 - r1) D(cm)
left right (cm)
edge of edge of
jharan jharana
a disk
disk r2 (cm)
r1(cm)

1. 10.0 21.4 D1 = 11.4

2. 10.0 21.3 D2 = 11.3 D= 11.3
3. 10.0 21.3 D3 = 11.3
4. 11.0 22.3 D4 = 11.3
 5. 11.0 22.3 D5 = 11.3
6. 12.0 23.4 D6 = 11.4
Mean Diameter of the disk D= 11.3 ± 0.1 cm

% uncertainty in diameter of the disk = (Δ D / D)*100

= 0.1 x 100/11.3 = 0.88%

3. Measurement of diameter of the hole in disk

Method:
The diameter of the same hole was different at different places.
Least count of scale used = 0.1 cm
Table for diameter (pic P 15)
S.No. Scale Scale Diameter Mean
readin reading d= diameter
g on on (r2 - r1) d(cm)
left right (cm)
edge of edge of
hole hole
r1(cm) r2 (cm)

1. 6.0 6.6 d1 = 0.6

2. 6.0 6.65 d2 = 0.65 d= 0.6
3. 6.0 6.55 d3 = 0.55
4. 6.0 6.55 d4 = 0.55
5. 6.0 6.6 d5 = 0.6
6. 6.0 6.65 d6 = 0.65
Mean Diameter of the hole d = 0.6 ± 0.1 cm
Note: even though LC of scale was 0.1 cm but at some places, the
diameter could be seen to be larger and lying between 0.6 cm and
0.7 cm
% uncertainty in diameter of the hole = (Δ d / d)*100
= 0.1 x 100/0.6 = 16.7%

4. Measurement of average width of the plastic handle

Method:
Since the shape of the plastic handle was not a perfect rectangle as
viewed from top, it was divided in 3 parts – a triangular part, a
rectangular part and a trapezium part. Area of each part was
calculated and divided by length to get the average width. The area
of hollow portion in triangular part was not subtracted because
average outer width is required.
Least count of scale used = 0.1 cm
Table for Dimensions of triangular part of plastic handle (pic P 6)
S.No. Scale Scale dimensio Mean Area of
readin readin n dimensio traiangular part
g on g on d= n d(cm) A1 = ½ bH
left right (r2 - r1) (cm2)
edge edge (cm)
r1(cm) r2 (cm)

Base of triangular part

1. 0.0 2.2 b1 = 2.2 A1 = (2.2 x 2.4)/2
2. 1.0 3.2 b2 = 2.2
3. 2.0 4.2 b3 = 2.2 b= 2.2
 height of triangular part
4. 0.0 2.4 H1 = 2.4
5. 1.0 3.4 H2 = 2.4
6. 2.0 4.4 H3= 2.4 H = 2.4
For Uncertainty in area of triangular part =
ΔA1 /A1 = Δb / b + ΔH /H = 0.1 / 2.2+ 0.1/2.4
= 0.045 + 0.042 = 0.087
ΔA1 = 0.087 * A = 0.087 x 2.64 = 0.230 cm

Table for Dimensions of rectangular part of plastic handle (pic P 6)

S.No. Scale Scale dimensio Mean Area of
readin readin n dimensio rectangular part
g on g on d= n d(cm) A2 = ℓ x b
left right (r2 - r1) (cm2)
edge edge (cm)
r1(cm) r2 (cm)

length of rectangular part

1. 0.0 2.2 ℓ1 = 2.2 A2 = (2.2 x 8.9)
2. 1.0 3.2 ℓ 2 = 2.2
3. 2.0 4.2 ℓ 3 = 2.2 ℓ = 2.2
breadth of rectangular part
4. 0.0 8.9 B1 = 8.9
5. 1.0 9.9 B2 = 8.9
6. 2.0 10.9 B3 = 8.9 B = 8.9

For Uncertainty in area of rectangular part =

ΔA2 /A2 = Δ ℓ / ℓ + ΔB /B = 0.1 / 2.2+ 0.1/8.9
= 0.045 + 0.011 = 0.056
ΔA2 = 0.087 * A = 0.056 x 19.58 = 1.096 cm
Table for Dimensions of trapezium part of plastic handle (pic P 6)
S.No Scale Scale dimensio Mean Area of rectangular
. readin reading n dimensio part
g on on d= n d(cm) A3 = ½ (ℓ1 + ℓ2)x h
left right (r2 - r1) (cm2)
edge edge (cm)
r1(cm) r2 (cm)

length ℓ1 of trapezium part

1. 0.0 2.2 2.2
2. 1.0 3.2 2.2
3. 2.0 4.2 2.2 ℓ1 = 2.2
length ℓ2 of the parallel side of trapezium part
1. 0.0 1.15 1.15
2. 1.0 2.15 1.15
3. 2.0 3.15 1.15 ℓ2 = 1.15
Height of trapezium part
1. 0.0 1.2 1.2
2. 1.0 2.2 1.2
3. 2.0 3.2 1.2 h = 1.2

For Uncertainty in area of trapezium part =

ΔA3 /A3 = Δ ℓ / ℓ + Δh /h = (0.1+0.1) / 3.35 + 0.1/1.2
= 0.060 + 0.083 = 0.143
ΔA3 = 0.143 * A3 = 0.143 x 2.01 = 0.287 cm
Total area A = A1 + A2 + A3 = 2.64 + 19.58 + 2.01 = 24.23 cm2
Total uncertainty in area = ∆A = ∆ A1 + ∆A2 +∆ A3 = 0.23 + 1.10 + 0.29
= 1.62 cm2

Table for length of plastic handle (pic P 6)

S.No Scale Scale dimensio Mean length L(cm)
. reading readin n
on left g on d=
edge right (r2 - r1)
r1(cm) edge (cm)
r2 (cm)

1. 0.0 12.5 L1 =12.5

2. 1.0 13.5 L 2 = 12.5
3. 2.0 14.5 L 3 = 12.5 L = 12.5±0.1

Mean width of plastic handle W = Total Area/Length

= A/L = 24.23/12.5 =1.94 cm
For % Uncertainty in mean width
∆W/W = (∆A /A + ∆L /L)
= (1.62/24.23) + (0.1/12.5) = 0.067 + 0.008 = 0.075 cm
% uncertainty in width of plastic handle = 0.075 x 100 = 7.5%