EXPERIMENT 9 To determine the frequency of Alternating Current (AC mains) with a sonometer. Apparatus and Material Required A sonometer with a soft iron wire stretched over it, an electromagnet with a step-down transformer, a 500 g hanger, seven 500 g slotted weights, a physical balance, two sharp edge wedges, a weight box, a meter scale. Theory/Principle The current whose magnitude and direction change periodically is called alternating current. If an alternating current is passed in the coil of an electromagnet, the magnetisation produced in the core is proportional to the instantaneous value of the current. Hence, during first half of AC eycle, the North pole is developed at the lower end of the electromagnet. In the contrast to this, when second half of AC cycle is passed through the coil, the South pole gets developed at the lower end. So due to this irrespective nature of the pole, the electromagnet develops an attractive power to attract the iron. Ifan electromagnet having AC current in its coil is held close to the middle of stretched sonometer Wire, the wire will be attracted twice during each cycle towards the electromagnet. Itis because, the attractive force experienced by the stretched wire will be proportional to the magnetisation produced in the core of the electromagnet and the current magnetises and demagnetises the cylindrical core of electromagnet twice for each cycle. The figure given below shows the experimental set up for finding frequency of AC mains using an electromagnet and a sonometer. Step-down transformerthe stretched wire wi ;wice and hence at resonance, the wire will fhe stretched wire will be pulled twice e, the wii I: Since in each cycle, 's twice the frequency of alternating current vibrate with a frequency which is current = Let frequency of alternating current =f a Mia 2° 2x 2iVm vibrates : ith which the sonometer wire where, n = frequency with F 2nifm =VT T=4n*lm | Ta iy PB 4n?m i tion of straight line. So, in the form of y = mx which is the equation . oe eee Meare ti ietcicisand ton Y-axis, we got a elra eh Z Tine The elope ofthis line gives the relation between frequency of the ‘mains and that of stretched vibrating wire. Slope = FR aa n? — os 4m x slope Graph showing relation betwoey 1 and 2\/m x slope So, the frequency of alternating current f can be determined by using the formula. Hence by knowing the value of n (which can be determined by knowing the value of 7, /and m), one can find the frequency of alternating current. Procedure 1. First ofall, fx the sonometer on the table in such a manner that its one end carrying pulley sets on the edge of the table, so that the hanger can be suspended without touching the table to stretch the wire. Now, place the two wooden blocks or bridges having wedges 4 and B to remove | the kink in the wire. 2. Clamp the electromagnet in a stand and connect it to the secondary of Adiust the position of the electromagnet so that its lower end lies cloce wire AB 8. Place the weight of 0.5 kg on the hanger and switch ON the AC supply, 4 Observe the sonometer wire between the wedges. It starts vibrating, ) 5: Adjust the length of vibrating wire by slowly increasing the distance between the wedges A and B 6. Keep on increasing the length of the vibrating wire till it vibrates wit i ae to attain the final adjustment, take a small, chee fooking like a paper rider. Now put thi wedges A and B aye ous 8. Observe the position of the Paper rider. Wibrates with maximum amplitude a step down transformer, | to the middle of stretched ; +h maximum amplitude. Piece of paper and then fold it to give it the | "ider Rat the middle of the wire between9, At this position, with the help of meter scale, mensure the length of the resonating wire beeen the wedges and also note down the corresponding lond auspended from the hanger, ‘This reading, will give you the resonant length for trial 1 10. Now increase the distance between the wedges by 2-4 em and put the paper rider back on the vibrating wire 11, Decrease the length of the vibrating wire by slowly decreasing the distance betw _ 12, Observe the position of the paper rider, it starts moving and finally falls down when the wire vibrates with maximum amplitude, At this position, measure the value of resonating wire with the help of meter scale, This reading will give you resonating length for trial 2 13. Find the mean of the values measured in steps (9) and (12). 14, Now, increase the load in steps of 0.5 kg and by repeating the steps (4) to (1) each time, find the mean resonating length, 15. Switch OFF the AC supply. Remove the load and untie the sonometer wire from its peg, 16. Using physical balance, find the mass of 100 em sonometer wire. Hence, find the mass per unit length or linear mass density m of the wire by dividing mass of ware by the length (100 cm). the wedges 1, Length of the sonometer wire, = «ou. m™" 2, Mass of the sonometer wire =...... g(gram) =.... kg 8, Linear mass density, (on. glem kg/m 4, Acceleration due to gravity, . ms™ [either 9.8 m/s? or 10 m/s*] Table to Determine the Frequency of Alternating Current | Teasinin | natngeeth 60) 9h | : fetor| ‘r stance between wedges on Spall Me pet | Trial | Trial Ae FO) | ancreaseay | Decreases) | &™ 4 even " Be | | | c a= cic | | % cs Ca / 1. For each set, calculate the value of fundamental frequency of stretched iron wire using the formula note 2Vm _mytny emg ty Find the mean of four values of 1, Mou) © 7 Banc ay 2, Plot a graph of /? against 7' with /? on Y-axis and 1 on Xaxia, Determine the slope of the graph. 8. Using the value of slope, determine the frequency / of alternating current ae Gasinntcns Laboratory Manual Physics Class 12th C49)