Government Polytecnic, Jamnagar.

Practicals in Physics
By
Dr. U M Joshi
Lecturer in Physics
 EXPERIMENT - 2

LINEAR DIMENSION BY MICROMETER

SCREW
 Experiment - 2 A

Aim: To measure the volume of a given wire.

 INSTRUMENT/MATERIAL:
1 Micrometer screw gauge.
2 A metallic wire
3 Vernier calipers
IMAGE OF MICROMETER SCREW
Courtesy: Miniphysics
IMAGE OF MICROMETER SCREW
Courtesy: https://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/practical/skills/micrometer.htm
Theory of Micrometer Screw gauge
Theory:
The micrometer screw gauge is an instrument
used for measuring precisely the diameter of
a thin wire or thickness of metal sheet.

It consists of a U-shaped frame fitted with a

screwed spindle which is attached to a
thimble.
 Pitch of the screw

Pitch:
Pitch of the screw gauge is defined
as the distance between two
consecutive threads of the
micrometer screw. It is denoted as p.
Image of micrometer screw pitch
 Least count formula of micrometer
screw
Least count = Pitch =p/n
Number of division on head scale

Where p= pitch of the screw

n= number of divisions on head scale or
circular scale
Least count of = (0.5 mm)/(50) = 0.01 mm
Image of micrometer screw
Micrometer
Micrometer
Video Link of micrometer screw gauge
• https://youtu.be/_NbQV9OEsoQ
• https://youtu.be/phFRSS7mH9Y
• https://youtu.be/tMILwd6mkfE
• https://youtu.be/TD5wM9Q6BAk
• https://youtu.be/7g_JE9dxEuw
 Error in Micrometer screw
Zero Error :
 When the anvil face & spindle are just in
contact with ratchet and If the base line of
the main scale coincides with the zero of the
head scale (circular scale) than error is known
as zero error
Image of Zero error
 Error in Micrometer screw
Positive Error:
When the anvil face & spindle are just in
contact with ratchet and If zero of the head
scale (circular scale) below the base line of
the main scale than error is known as positive
zero error
Image of positive error
 Error in Micrometer screw
Negative Error:
When the anvil face & spindle are just in
contact with ratchet and If zero of the head
scale (circular scale) above the base line of
the main scale than error is known as
negative zero error
Image of Negative Error
Image of all Error in micrometer
Image of all Error in micrometer
 Virtual Lab link for Micrometer
• http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=5&si
m=156&cnt=4
 Procedure of Exp – 2A
Procedure :
(1) Determine the pith of the screw and record it.
(2) Count the number of division (n) on the head
scale
(3) Least count (LC) = Pitch
Number of division on head scale
=p/n
(4 ) Determine the zero error C’ of the screw and obtain
the correction C.
(5 ) Hold the wire between the flat ends A and B of the
screw .
 Procedure of Exp – 2A
(6) Find out which division of main scale touches the edge
of head scale and consider it as a main scale reading A
(7) Now note the number n of head scale or circular scale
which coincides with base line. Multiply n with L.C.
and considered as head scale reading B.
(8) Measure the diameter of the wire at three different
places of the wire and calculate the average diameter .
(9) Do the correction in the average value if there is zero
error either positive or negative.
(10) Measure the length of wire with the vernier caliers.
 Procedure of Exp – 2A
• OBSERVATION:
• Pitch of the micrometer screw (p) = 0.5 mm
• Number of division on head scale (n) = 50
• Least count x = p/n = 0.5/50 = 0.01 mm
• Zero error positive/negative c’ = 0.00
• Correction c = 0.00
 Table by micrometer
Dimensi No.of Main Head scale obs. Value of Average Correcte
on of obs. scale dimensi value d value
object obs. Div.On Its value on D’ D=D’±C
A mm Head scale B= N×X D’=A+B mm mm
N
Diameter 1 2 46 0.46 2.46 2.19 2.19+
of wire 0.00=
2 2 6 0.06 2.06
2.19
3 2 6 0.06 2.06
 Table by vernier
Dimensi No. of Main Vernier scale obs. Value of Average Correcte
on of obs. scale coincident Its value dimension Value d value
object obs Mark B=N×x L’= A+B L‘ L=
A mm
Length 1 13.00 0.00 0.00 13 13 13.00
of wire 2 13.00 0.00 0.00 13 13 mm

3 13.00 0.00 0.00 13 13

 Calculation
Volume of wire v= Π D2L
4
=3.14 x (2.19)2 ×13
4
= 484.44 mm3 =484.44/1000
= 0.484 cm3

1mm=1/10cm
1mm3 =1/10x1/10x1/10=1/1000
 EXPERIMENT 2 B
Aim: To measure the volume of rectangular
block by measuring thickness by micrometer
screw and length and breadth by vernier
calipers.

INSTUMENT/MATERIL : 1 Micrometer screw

2 A rectangular block
3 Vernier calipers
 Procedure of Exp – 2B
Procedure :
(1) Measure least count and zero error
correction in micrometer.
(2 )Hold the thickness of metallic piece
between two flat ends of micrometer.
(3 )Take main scale reading A and record it
(4)Find the coincident mark with base line
and record it.
(5 )Find the reading on head scale record as B
 Procedure of Exp – 2B
(6 ) Take the readings for three times.
(7) Find average value & correct value of thickness .
(8 ) Compare the thickness obtained by vernier caliper and
micrometer.
(9) Calculate volume of rectangular block with the help of
readingslength (L) and breadth (b )from experiment 1B
 Observation :
micrometer screw Range = 0 to 25 mm
Least count(LC) = p/n
=0.5/50
=0.01 mm
Correction C’= +0.00
 Observation Table
Dimensi No. of Main Vernier scale Value of Average Correcte
on of obsearv scale Observation Dimensi Value H d value
object ation obs. Coincident Its on mm Y= H±c
A mm mark N Value H=A+B
B= N×X
Thicknes 1 5 11 0.11 5.11 5.19 5.19+0.0
s 2 5 34 0.34 5.34 0=5.19

3 5 13 0.13 5.13
Dimensi No. of Main Vernier scale obs. value of Average Correcte
on of obs. scale Coincident Its Dimensi Value d value
wire Obs Mark Value on l’/b’ mm l=l’+c
A mm N B=N×X l ’=A+B/ B=b’+c
b’=A+B
Length 1 47 30 0.60 47.60 47.235 47.24
2 47 28 0.56 47.56
3 46 30 0.60 46.60
Breadth 1 11 40 0.80 11.80 11.44 11.44
2 11 11 0.22 11.22
3 11 15 0.30 11.30
 Calculation of Exp- 2B
Volume of rectangular block with
micrometer screw
=l X bX h
=47.24 X 11.44 X 5.19
= 2805.40 mm3
= 2.805 cm3
 Questions
(1 ) why is instrument named as micrometer
screw ?
Ans: The micrometer screw gauge works on the
principal of a perfect screw fixed in a nut.

(2 )Explin the terms (1) pitch (2) least count

Ans: (1) pitch of the screw is the distance
between two consecutive threads of the
screw.
 Questions
(2) Least count = pitch (p)
Number of Division on head scale (n)

(3)When is zero error said to be positive or negative ?

Ans: If the zero of the head scale stands blow the base line is
called positive error & if the zero of the head scale stand
above the base line ,the error is said to be negative.

(4) Fill up the gap:

(1) 1 micrometer = 10-6 meter (2) 1 millimeter = 10-3 meter
(3) 1 Nanometer = 10-9 meter (4) 1 meter =1010 angstrom
THANK YOU