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Diagram: Expt. No.4

SCREW GAUGE
Aim: Use of screw gauge to measure the thickness of a given sheet

Apparatus required: Screw gauge, sheet.

Principle: The linear distance moved by the screw is directly proportional to

the rotation given to it. The linear distance moved by the screw when it is
rotated by one division of the circular scale is the least distance that can be
measured accurately by the instrument. It is called least count of the
instrument.

Formula:
distance moved in the linear scale by the screw
1. Pitch = in mm
No.of rotations given to the screw

Pitch
2. Least Count (L C) = in mm
Total no. of divisions on the circular scale
Observations:
1. The length of smallest division in the linear scale = 1.mm.
distance moved in the linear scale 𝟐 𝐦𝐦 3. Total reading = linear scale reading + (circular scale reading  L C) in
2. Pitch = = = 1mm.
No. of rotations given to the screw 𝟐 mm
3. Total no. of divisions on the circular scale = 100 i.e TR = M + (n  L C) in mm
Pitch
4. Least count (L C) =
Total no. of divisions on the circular scale
Mean corrected reading = measured reading – (ZE with sign ) in mm
𝟏
= = 0.01mm
𝟏𝟎𝟎
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Procedure:
5. Zero error (ZE) = -2
1. Pitch and least count of the screw gauge is determined, using the relevant
ZE with sign = ZE ⤬ LC formula.
2. To determine zero error bring the end of the screw and surface of the stud
= -2 ⤬ 0.01 = -0.02 mm in contact. If zero of the circular screw coincides with the reference line
then zero error of the screw gauge is zero. If zero of circular scale is above
Measurement of thickness of the sheet the reference line zero error is negative and if zero of circular scale is
below the reference line zero error is positive. The no. of divisions by
Sl.No Linear scale Circular scale Thickness which zero if the circular scale is above or below the reference line gives
reading M (mm) reading n the value of zero error.
t = M + (n  L.C) (mm) 3. Insert the given sheet between the screw and stud of the screw gauge.
Move the screw forward by rotating the rachet till the sheet is gently fixed.
1 0 82 0.82 4. Take the readings of the linear scale and the circular scale
5. Thickness of the given sheet can be obtained by using the formula, Total
reading = linear scale reading + (circular scale reading  L C)
2 0 84 0.84 6. The experiment is repeated by taking linear scale reading and circular
scale reading for different positions of the sheet, thickness is calculated in
each case.
3 0 83 0.83 7. Mean thickness is calculated
8. Subtract (zero error with sign) from measured thickness to get corrected
value of thickness for the given sheet.

Mean t = 0.83 mm Result:

The thickness of the given sheet is found to be = 0.85 ⤬ 10-3 m
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Calculations:

Trial no.1: t = M + (n  L.C)

t = 0 + (82 ⤬ 0.01) = 0.82 mm
Trial no.2: t = M + (n  L.C)
t = 0 + (84 ⤬ 0.01) = 0.84 mm
Trial no.3: t = M + (n  L.C)
t = 0 + (83 ⤬ 0.01) = 0.83 mm

Mean thickness of the sheet

𝟎.𝟖𝟐+𝟎.𝟖𝟒+𝟎.𝟖𝟑
t=
𝟑
t = 0.83 mm

Mean corrected thickness

of the given sheet = measured mean thickness - (ZE with sign)
= 0.83 – (-0.02)
= 0.85 mm