SCREW GAUGE

AIM
 to determine the diameter of wire
 to determine the thickness of glass plate and hence the volume using screw guage

APPARATUS
Screw gauge, wire, glass plate, graph paper etc.

PRINCIPLE
The screw gauge is an instrument used for measuring accurately the diameter of a thin wire or the
thickness of glass plate
Pitch of the Screw Gauge
The pitch of the screw is the distance moved by the spindle per revolution. The pitch can be represented as;
Pitch of the screw= distance moved by screw for n rotations
No. of full rotations
Least Count of the Screw Gauge
The Least count (LC) is the distance moved by the tip of the screw, when the screw is turned through 1
division of the head scale.
The least count can be calculated using the formula; least count = pitch
Total no: of divisions on head scale
The diameter of the wire and thickness of glass plate is given by; Total reading T. R= PSR+(CHSR X LC)
The volume of the glass plate is calculated from the equation; V= A x T

PROCEDURE
 Zero Error and Zero Correction
1. The zero mark of the circular scale comes on the reference line. In this case, the zero error and the zero
correction, both are nil.
2. The zero mark of the circular scale remains above the reference line and does not cross it. In this case,
the zero error is positive and the zero correction is negative depending on how many divisions it is
above the reference line.
3. The zero mark of the head scale is below the reference line. In this case, the zero error is negative and
the zero correction is positive depending on how many divisions it is below the reference line.
 To find the diameter of the wire
Place the wire between the anvil and the screw and note down the PSR and HSR as before.
The diameter of the wire is given by; Total reading T. R= PSR+(CHSR X LC)
 To find the thickness of the glass plate
The glass plate is gripped between the tip of the screw and the anvil. The PSR and HSR are noted as
before. The thickness of the glass plate is; Total reading T. R= PSR+ (CHSR X LC)
 To find the Volume of glass plate (irregular lamina)
Find the thickness, t of irregular lamina as before. Then place the lamina over a graph paper and trace its
outline on the graph paper. The area A of the lamina is taken from the graph paper.
The volume of the glass plate is calculated from the equation; V= A x T

RESULT
Diameter of wire=……………………………………….m
Volume of glass plate = ……………………………….m3
OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION
Pitch of the screw= distance moved by screw for n rotations =
No. of full rotations
Least count = pitch
Total no: of divisions on head scale

Zero correction = ………………………………

To find the thickness of the glass plate and diameter of wire

Dimensions Sl.no PSR HSR CHSR T.R= PSR+(CHSR x L.C) Mean
Thickness of glass 1
plate 2
3
4
5
Diameter of wire 1
2
3
4
5

Mean value of thickness of glass plate= …………………………….mm

Area of glass plate =…………………………………………mm2
Volume of glass plate = area x thickness = ……………………… X …………………………..
=……………………mm3 = ……………………………..m3
Mean value of diameter= ……………………………………mm = ………………………………….m
 VERNIER CALIPERS

AIM
 To measure the length, breadth and height of the given rectangular block and hence find its
volume.
 To measure the internal diameter and depth of a given calorimeter and hence find its volume.

APPARATUS
Vernier calipers, rectangular block, calorimeter etc

PRINCIPLE
Least Count
The least count or the smallest reading which you can get with the instrument can be calculated as;
Least count = one main scale division = 0.1cm =0.01cm
No of divisions in Vernier scale 10
Total reading T. R = MSR+ (VSR X LC) where MSR is main scale reading and VSR is Vernier scale reading
PROCEDURE
 First calculate the least count and then place the object between the two jaws.
 Record the position of zero of the Vernier scale on the main scale.
 Note down the position of Vernier scale that coincides exactly with any division of the main scale
 The length of block is calculated by the equation Total reading, T. R = MSR+ (VSR X LC)
 The experiment is repeated for finding breadth and height and volume of rectangular block is
calculated by equation V=l x b x h, where 'l' is length of the block, 'b' the breadth and 'h' the height
of the block.
 The internal diameter of calorimeter and the depth of beaker is measured using inner measuring
jaws and depth measuring prongs
 Volume of the calorimeter = internal area of the cross section x depth. This can be expressed as;
V=𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
RESULT
Volume of the rectangular block = --------------------------------------------m3
Volume of the calorimeter = --------- -----------------------------------m3

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATION

Least count = one main scale division = = ………..cm

No of divisions in Vernier scale

Total reading T. R = MSR+ (VSR X LC)

To find the volume of the calorimeter

Dimensions Sl.no MSR VSR T.R= MSR+(VSR x L.C) cm Mean

Internal diameter 1
2
3
4
5
Depth 1
2
3
4
5

Mean value of diameter= ……………………………………cm

Radius of calorimeter = ………………………………….cm= ………………………………….m
Volume of calorimeter V=πr2 h = ……………………cm3 = ……………………………..m3

To find the volume of the rectangular block

Dimensions SL.NO MSR (cm) VSR TR=MSR+(VSR X LC) cm Mean (cm)
Length 1
2
3
4
5
Breadth 1
2
3
4
5
Height 1
2
3
4
5

Volume of rectangular block V= l x b x h = ………….x………….x………….. = ………………….cm3

=……………………….m3
 SIMPLE PENDULUM
AIM

To determine the acceleration due to gravity at given place

APPARATUS

Simple pendulum, meter scale, stop watch

PRINCIPLE

For a small amplitude oscillation of a simple pendulum l/T2= constant, where l is length of pendulum, T is
time period of pendulum

𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝑙 𝑔

g=4π2 l/T2 where g is acceleration due to gravity

PROCEDURE

 Adjust the length of pendulum to 40 cm

and make an oscillation
 Determine the time for 20 oscillation
 Repeat the experiment for different length
of pendulum
 In each case value of l/T2 is calculated
 Find mean value of l/T2
 Determine acceleration due to gravity
l
using the formula 𝑔 = 4𝜋 2 T 2

RESULT

Acceleration due to gravity at the given place=………………………………m/s2

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Sl no Length of Time for 20 oscillations T=t/20 T2 l/T2

pendulum (s2) (cm/s2)
(cm) 1 2 mean
1 40
2 50
3 60
4 70

Mean l/T2=………………………………cm/s2

Acceleration due to gravity (g)=

=…………………………………………………m/s2
 HELICAL SPRING
AIM

To determine the spring constant by load extension method

APPARATUS

Helical spring apparatus , slotted weight

PRINCIPLE

According to hookes law within elastic limit load applied is directly proportional to extension produced.
Load α extension
Load /extension = constant(k) , where k is called spring constant
Net load= mg
Extension= x
K=mg/x

PROCEDURE

 Set up the helical spring apparatus note down the reading

corresponding to dead load
 Slotted weight od 50 grams are successively placed on the
weight hanger and the corresponding pointer reading is
noted
 The experiment is repeated for unloading the slotted weights
and the corresponding pointer readings is noted
 The extension is found by taking difference between successive scale readings
 Spring constant is calculated by k=mg/x

RESULT

Spring constant k= ……………………………N/m

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS

Mass Scale reading in cm Extension x K=mg/x

(g) On loading On unloading mean (cm)
W0
W0+50
W0+100
W0+150
W0+200
W0+250

Mean k=……………………………………N/m
 SONOMETER I
AIM

To find the relation between frequency and resonating length using sonometer apparatus

APPARATUS

Sonometer, tuning fork, rubber hammer, paper rider

PRINCIPLE

The frequency (n) of vibration of a string is inversely proportional to the length of the vibrating segment
of the wire

N α 1/l

Nl= constant

PROCEDURE

 The sonometer is stretched under tension.

 A tuning fork of known frequency is excited and its handle is kept pressed on the sonometer
wooden box
 Keeping one bridge fixed and the other bridge is adjusted until the paper rider falls out from the
string
 The experiment is repeated for different frequencies
 In each case n x l is calculated and is found to be constant

RESULT

n x l is found to be a constant

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Constant tension on the wire, T= .........kg

Frequency Resonating length nxl
(Hz) first trial (cm) Second trial (cm) Mean (cm) (Hz x cm)
 PARALLELOGRAM LAW OF FORCES
AIM

To find the weight of the body by parallelogram law of forces

APPARATUS

Vertical wooden board with two pulleys, weight hanger, slotted weight, pins, sheet of paper.

PRINCIPLE

Parallelogram law of vectors states that if two adjacent sides of a parallelogram represent two vectors in
magnitude and direction then diagonal of parallelogram represents their vectors. Let P and Q represent
the magnitude of two forces acting at a point and theta be the angle between them then resultant
𝑅= 𝑃2 + 𝑄 2 + 2𝑃𝑄𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Weight of the body = OD x scale chosen, where OD is the diagonal of the parallelogram OADB

PROCEDURE

 A paper is fixed to the drawing board and suitable masses are attached to a long string and is
passed over two pulleys
 A second string carrying the body is attached to the middle of the first string
 The knot and the direction of the string are marked on the paper.
 Choose a suitable scale i.e. 50g= 1cm
 Then draw the parallelogram OADB according to the masses attached.
 Diagonal OD is joined length of the diagonal is measured
 Weight of the body is calculated by diagonal OD x scale chosen
 Experiment is repeated for different values of P and Q.

RESULT

Weight of the given body = ………………………….g

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS

Scale chosen 1cm=50g wt

Sl.no Forces OA OB OD Weight of the body=OD x scale chosen

P (g) Q (g) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1
2
3

Mean value of weight=…………………………….g wt

 SONOMETER II
AIM
To study the relation between length and mass of a string vibrating with constant frequency

APPARATUS
Sonometer, tuning fork, weight hanger, rubber hammer, slotted weight.

PRINCIPLE
If a string which is stretched between two fixed points, vibrations produced and it move out in opposite
directions along the string. Because of this, a transverse wave travels along the string.
If a string of length l having mass per unit length m is stretched with a tension T, the fundamental
frequency of vibration f is given by;

Law of Tension: The frequency of vibration of a stretched string varies directly as the square root of its
tension, (provided its resonating length and mass per unit length of the wire remains constant).
From the equation for frequency, M/ l2 = constant. A graph between T and l2 will be a straight line.

PROCEDURE
 The sonometer wire is stretched by placing a suitable load on the weight hanger.
 Distance between the wooden bridges is adjusted.Put an inverted V shaped paper rider on the
middle of the wire.
 Take a tuning fork of known frequency. Make it vibrate by strike its prong with a rubber pad.
 Touch the lower end of tuning fork handle with sonometer board. The wire vibrates due to
resonance and the paper rider falls.
 Measure the length of wire between the bridges using a meter scale. It is the resonant length
 Repeat the steps in the previous section to find out the resonant length.
 Repeat the experiment by changing the values of slotted weights.
 Record the observations each time and calculate M/l2 in each case.
 A graph is drawn taking M along x axis and l2along y axis. The graph will be a straight line

RESULT
It is found that; M/l2is a constant. The graph between square of length and tension is a straight line,
which shows that tension is directly proportional to square of resonant length.
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
To find the relation between length and tension
Resonant length of wire l2 M/l 2
Tension,
Sl No.
T=Mg (N) Length l1(cm) Length l2(cm) Mean (cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Mean, M/l2 =..................Kg / cm2

 RESONANCE COLUMN
AIM
To determine the velocity of sound in air at room temperature using the resonance column apparatus
and hence to find the velocity of sound in air at 00C.

APPARATUS
Resonance column apparatus, tuning fork of different frequencies, meter scale, rubber hammer

THEORY

When the frequency of waves in the air column becomes equal to the natural frequency of tuning fork, a
loud sound is produced in the air column. It is the condition for resonance. It occurs only when the
length of air column is proportional to one-fourth of the wavelength of sound waves having frequency
equal to frequency of tuning fork.

𝜆
ie; For first resonance, l1=
4

For second resonance, l2=3λ/4

From the above equations we get the relation, λ=2(l2-l1)
Thus the velocity of sound waves on air at room temperature can be found as,𝜈 = 𝜆𝑣
ν =2 𝜈 (l2-l1)
If v be the velocity of sound in air at temperature t°C, then the velocity of sound at 0 °C can be calculated
as,

PROCEDURE
 The inner tube of the resonance column is lowered to minimum so that the length of air column
inside the tube is very small.
 Take a tuning fork of known frequency and striking it with a rubber hammer. The tuning fork now
produces longitudinal waves with a frequency equal to the natural frequency of the tuning fork.
 Place the vibrating tuning fork horizontally above the tube. Sound waves are passes down to the tube
and reflect back at the water surface.
 Now, raise the tube and the tuning fork until a maximum sound is heard.
 Measure the length of air column at that position. This is taken as the first resonant length, l1.
 Then raise the tube approximately about three times the first resonant length.
 Excite the tuning fork again and place it on the mouth of the tube.
 Change the height of the tube until the maximum sound is heard.
 Measure the length of air column at that position. This is taken as the second resonant length, l2.
 We can now calculate the velocity of sound in air at room temperature by using the relation,
 Repeat the experiment with tuning forks of different frequencies and in each time, calculate the
value of v.
 The mean of the calculated values will give the velocity of sound in air at room temperature.
 By using the value of v, we can calculate the velocity of sound in air at 00C as,

RESULT
Velocity of sound in air at room temperature, v =……....... m/s
Velocity of sound in air at 00C , v =……....... m/s

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCUATIONS

Sl Frequency First resonating length Second resonating length l2-l1 ν =2 𝜈 (l2-l1)

no of tuning (cm)
fork
1 2 Mean l1(cm) 1 2 Mean l2(cm)

Room temperature, t = ............. 0C

Velocity of sound in air at room temperature, v = ………... m/s
Velocity of sound in air at 00C,

= ............. m/s