DATE:

PERIMENT NO. 3

Lever apparatus.
the Bell C r a n k
Principle of
Moments using
erify the

PARATUS REQUIRED
scale.
lever apparatus, hangers, weights,
crank

HEORY moments of a system of coplanar

algebraic sum of the
states, 'the
nciple of Moments of the resultant force
of the
is equal to the moment
in the plane
s about any point
em about the same point'.
would be verified for a bell crank lever arrangement.
principle fulcrum at
a right angle and having its
form a right angle, or nearly
two arms
ver whose These levers were originally used to
is referred to as a bell crank lever.
apex angle
of the of bell wires w a s
distance especially
where change in direction
the bell from a long
peate are used in
machines to convert the
Now bell crank levers
and hence the n a m e .
ved
movement.
ection of reciprocation

CEDURE horizontal arm. Note the locations

locations on the
three hangers at arbitrary
Arrange tension in the spring
from the hinge. Adjust the
X. Xa, and Xs of these hangers come in the same vertical
such that the two pointers
connected to the vertical arm

horizontal. Note the tensile

force in
horizontal a r m is truly
ine. In this position the from the
Also note the location Y of
the spring
as the initial tension TI.
the spring
hinge. This will cause the arms to tilt
and Ws from the hangers.
2 Hang the weights W1, W2
other. Now adjust the tension in the spring
and the pointers to move away from each
vertical line. The horizontal
arm
come in the same
such that the pointers once again
Note the tensile force in
the spring as the final1
is once again in its horizontal position.
is the difference Tr- Ti.
the vertical arm
tension T The tensile force T on

BELLCRANK LEVER 17
SA

Shot ononePlus
Powered by Quad Camera
12/23/22
10:24 AM
 T

*2

W W, W3

FREE BODY DIAGRAM

OBSERVATION TABLE

T=
SR. Y W Wa Ws X1 Xa Tr
(T-TI)
No. (N) m (N) (N) (N) m) m) (m (N) (Nn
(N)

18 MECHANICS LAB MANUAL

Shot on OnePlus 12/23/22

Powered by Quad Camera 10:25 AM
 Since the external forces are being supported by the single hinge at the apex
of the
arms, implies that the resultant of these external applied forces passes through the

supporting hinge. Therefore to verify the principle of moments we need to take

moments M of all the external forces (which includes the weights of the hangers
hanging from the horizontal arm and the tension in the spring connected to the
ertical arm) about the hinge and if the total sum is zero, verifies the law of moments
since the moment of the resultant is also zero at the hinge.
Repeat the above steps by changing the weights and their location on the horizontal
am for two more set of observations.

CALCULATIONS
mation moments of all external forces at the hinge O.

M o = TxY -W XX1 -Wa X X2 -Wg XX3

ESULT
MTesum of moments of all the applied external forces on the bell crank lever, within limits
mefexperimental error being close to zero, is in accordance to the Principle of Moments.
Hence the experiment is verified.

Teacher's signature

Shot onOnePiusS
Powered by Quad Camera
BELL CRANK LEVER 19 12/23/22
10:25 AM
 PRECAUTIONS
1. Do not overload the horizontal arm as it may bend or crack at the
hinge.
2. Note if any, the of the
zero error
spring balance and accordingly correct the readinj
of the tensile force.
3. Carefully place the loads in the
hangers as they may slip and cause accident.

vIVA VOCE gUESTIONS

9.1 What is a bell crank lever and where are they used?
Ans. A lever whose two form
arms a right angle, or nearly a right angle and having
fulcrum at the apex of the angle is referred to as a bell crank lever.
Bell crank levers were originally used to operate the bell from a long distance
especi
where change in direction
of bell wires was involved. Now bell crank levers are use
machines to convert the direction of
reciprocation movement
9.2 State Principle of Moments.
Ans. Principle of Moments states 'the algebraic sum of the moments of a system of copla
forces about any point in the plane is equal to the moment of the resultant force of
system about the same point'.
9. 3 Why do we take moments at the
hinge and not at any other
point?
Ans. The
equilibrium of the bell crank is maintained
by the single hinge reaction fo
implies that resultant of external forces passes through the hinge. By taking moment
the hinge, the moment of the resultant force becomes zero. Hence we take moments at
hinge.
9.4 What type of force system is formed in the experiment?
Ans. The bell crank
arrangement forms a General Force System
9.5 Why do we record the initial tension Ti ?
Ans. By subtracting the initial tension Ti from the final tension Tr we eliminate the eff
of momernts due to the
self weight of the horizontal arm and hangers hanging from it.

20 MECHANICS LAB MANUAL

Shot on OnePlus 12/23/22

Powered by Quad Camera 10:25 AM
Shot on OnePlus 12/23/22
Powered by Quad Camera 10:25 AM