Experiment 03

Objective
To determine the moment of inertia of trifilar suspension

Apparatus
The apparatus shown in Figure 01 consists of bifilar or trifilar suspension with three different
objects; a cylinder, a bar and a hollow cylinder which can be suspended from the mounting plate
and cause to oscillate. The length of suspension can be altered by adjusting the thread with the
locking wheels. The bar is attached to two threads (bifilar) while the cylinders have three
suspension points (trifilar).

Fig. 1 Trifilar Suspension

Experimental Procedure
1. Suspend the circular disc (trifilar pendulum) in the flat position by means of three strings
of equal lengths
2. Measure the radius of rotation ‘R’ from the centre of disc
3. Measure the perpendicular distance ‘l’ between the planes containing the lower and upper
ends of the strings
4. Now, turn the disc through a small angle about the vertical axis through the centre of
gravity and release it
5. Record the time twice for 20 oscillations and find the time for one oscillation (T)
6. Calculate the moment of inertia of the body with the formula

Observations and Calculations

For solid disc
𝑀𝑔𝑇2𝑅2
𝐼= 4𝜋2𝑙

Where
I = Moment of inertia of trifilar body
M = Mass of disc
T = Period of oscillation for trifilar body R
= Radius of rotation
l = Perpendicular distance between the planes containing the lower and upper ends of the strings

Sr. ‘l’ Time for 20 Oscillations Time for one oscillation ‘I’
No. (cm) ‘t’ (sec) ‘T’ (sec) (kgm2)

t1 t2 t3 tavg
Specimen Calculations
Discussion

Reg. No. Lab Performance (10) Lab Report (10) Viva Voce (10) Signature