Physics Department

Name: RANDY ALBALADEJO JR. Class Schedule: 1-4 SAT

Program & Year: BSCE- 2 Instructor: RHYXY ANTHONY MAMON

Laboratory Exercise No.6

Objective:

To study the role of torque in rotational equilibrium

To determine the center of mass and the amount of mass in an object by rotational considerations

Equipment/Materials/Tools:

Demonstration balance

Weight holders Meterstick

Slotted masses Beam balance

Method:

Part A: Determination of the value of the unknown weight

❖ Support the meterstick from the knife-edge and slide it through the frame until balanced in
horizontal position or when the fulcrum is set exactly at the 50-cm mark.
❖ Support the meterstick from the knife-edge and slide it through the frame until balanced in
horizontal position or when the fulcrum is set exactly at the 50-cm mark.
❖ Support the meterstick from the knife-edge and slide it through the frame until balanced in
horizontal position or when the fulcrum is set exactly at the 50-cm mark.
❖ Hang two weights (one unknown) at opposite ends of the meterstick. Slide them along the bar
until the meterstick is again balanced in a horizontal position. Do not let go of the weights until
the meterstick is balanced, so that the meterstick do not fall off from its support nor the weights
slide off the bar.
❖ Note and record the position (du) of unknown weight, wu, from the fulcrum.
❖ Note and record the position (dk) of known weight, wk, from the fulcrum.
❖ Note and record the mass of known weight (in kg), mk.
❖ Note and record the mass of unknown weight (in kg), mu. Part B:
Determination of the weight of the meterstick

❖ Support the meterstick from the knife-edge and slide it through the frame until the fulcrum is set
exactly at the 75-cm mark. While holding the longer arm, hang a known weight near the end of the
shorter arm. Slide the weight along the bar until the meterstick is again balanced in a horizontal
position.
❖ Note and record the position (dk) of known weight, wk, from the fulcrum.
❖ Note and record the mass of known weight (in kg), mk.
❖ Note and record the mass of the meterstick (in kg), mm.
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Data and Results:

Table 6.1: Determination of the value of the unknown weight

Known Weight Unknown Weight

Position (in cm) - 22cm

25cm
Mass (in kg) 0.0752kg 0.0865kg

Measured Weight (in N) 0.773696N 0.8477N

Computed Weight (in N) applying rotational equilibrium

0.83745N
Percentage Difference 1.22
%

Table6.2:Determination of the weight of the meterstick

Known Meterstick
Weight
Position (in cm) 23.8cm 25cm

Mass (in kg) 0.0752kg 0.0789kg

Measured Weight (in 0,72422N

N) 0.73696N
Computed Weight (in N) applying rotational
equilibrium 0.70159N
Percentage Difference
3.17%
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Computation:
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Observation:
In this experiment I observed that several cases of equilibrium that is the state for which
there is no net force of an object. We noted that in this case the linear acceleration of the
object was zero.

Analysis:

Using the second condition of equilibrium:

∑𝝉 = 0

wkdk– wudu =
|𝑪𝑽−𝑴𝑽|
0 wu= ?(CV) 𝑪𝑽+𝑴𝑽 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟐

Using the second condition of equilibrium:

∑𝝉 = 0
wmdm– wkdk =
|𝑪𝑽−𝑴𝑽|
0 wm= ?(CV) 𝑪𝑽+𝑴𝑽 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟐

Conclusion:

In this experiment I have learned how to investigate the conditions for rotational
equilibrium of a rigid bar and how to determine the center of gravity of a system of
masses.