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~Physics Investigatory Project

►Parallelogram Law of
vectors

By:- Dhairya Shah

K-1137
♦Abstract:-

If two vectors acting simultaneously at a point can be represented both in magnitude and
direction by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point, then the resultant
vector is represented both in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the
parallelogram passing through that point.

♦Objective:-

Our objective is to find the weight of a given body using the Parallelogram Law of
Vectors.

♦Theory:-

•What does the Parallelogram Law of Vectors state?

If two vectors acting simultaneously on a particle are represented in magnitude and

direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point, then their
resultant is completely represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of that
parallelogram drawn from that point.

•Parallelogram Law of Vectors explained

Let two vectors P and Q act simultaneously on a particle O at an angle . They are
represented in magnitude and direction by the adjacent sides OA and OB of a
parallelogram OACB drawn from a point O.Then the diagonal OC passing through O, will
represent the resultant R in magnitude and direction.
On a Gravesand's apparatus, if the body of unknown weight (say S) is suspended from the
middle hanger and balancing weights P and Q are suspended from othe two hangers then,
 The unknown weight can be calculated from the equation (1). On a Gravesand's
apparatus, if the body of unknown weight (say S) is suspended from the middle hanger
and balancing weights

P and Q are suspended from the other two hangers then,

Now construct a parallelogram OACB by assuming a scale (say 1cm=50 gwt)

corresponding to the weights P and Q. The diagonal of the parallelogram OC will give the
resultant vector. The weight of the unknown body, S = OC X Scale ----------(2) If W is the
actual weight of the body, then the percentage error in the experiment can be calculated
using the equation.

♦Materials Required:-

• Parallelogram Law of Forces apparatus (Gravesand's apparatus)

• Plumb line
• Two hangers with slotted weights
• A body (a wooden block) whose weight is to be determined
• Thin strong thread
• White drawing paper sheet
• Drawing pins
• Mirror strip
• Sharp pencil
• Half meter scale
• Set square
• Protractor
♦Procedure:-

• Set up the Gravesand's apparatus and ensure its board is vertical. This can be tested
using the plumb line. Test if the pulleys (let us name them - P1 and Q1) are frictionless. If
you feel any friction, oil them.
• Fix the white drawing paper sheet to the board using the drawing pins.
• Take three pieces of strong threads and tie one end of all three together to make a
knot. (Let us name this knotted end - O). This knot becomes the junction of the three
threads.
• From the other ends of the two threads, tie a weight hanger with the same slotted
weights in each; we will name these weights as P and Q.
• From the end of third thread tie the given body, which is the wooden block, which we
will name as S.
• Pass the threads with weights P and Q over the pulleys and let the third thread with the
block S, stay vertical in the middle of the board.
• The weights P, Q and the wooden block S acts as the three forces along the three
threads. At the junction O, the forces are in equilibrium.
• Now adjust the weights P and Q (forces) such that the junction O stays in equilibrium
slightly below the middle of the paper.
• See that all the weights hang freely and that none of them touch the board or the table.
• Mark the position of junction O on the paper using a sharp pencil.
• Slightly disturb the weights P and Q and then leave them.
• Once settled, note the position of junction O. Make sure that this point is very close to
the earlier position.
• Take the mirror strip and keeping it lengthwise under each thread, mark the position of
the ends of the image of the thread in the mirror, covering the image by the thread.
These new positions are P1, P2 for the thread with the weight P, and Q1 and Q2 for the
thread with the weight Q and S1, S2 for the thread with the weight S.
• Remove the paper from the board and with the help of the half metre scale draw lines
through the points P1 and P2 to represent P, through points Q1 and Q2 to represent Q and
through points S1 and S2 to represent S. These lines must meet at point O.
• Assuming a scale of 1cm = 50 g, mark OA = 3 cm and OB =3 cm to represent P=150g
and Q= 150g.
• Complete parallelogram OACB using the set squares and join OC. This represents the
resultant vector R which corresponds to the weight S.
• Measure OC and multiply it by the scale (50 g) to get the value of the unknown weight
(S).
• For different sets of observation, change P and Q suitably.
• We can find the weight of the wooden block (R) using the equation (1).
• Take the mean of the two values to get the actual weight of the body.
• To find the percentage error in the experiment, measure the actual weight of the body
using a spring balance.
• Calculate the percentage error using equation (3).
♦Observations:-

To find the actual weight of the unknown mass, W

Least count of spring balance = _________g
Zero error of spring balance = ________g
Weight of unknown body by spring balance = ________g
To find the weight of the unknown mass using parallelogram law of vectors.

♦Result:-

Mean value of unknown weight S = ---------- gwt.

Mean value of unknown weight, R =---------gwt
Unknown weight = (S+R)/2 = ------------gwt= ---------------kgwt
Percentage error = ---------
The unknown weight of given body = ------------------ kgwt . The result shows the error is
within limits of the experiment error.

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