Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THEORY
Consider a rigid body in the form of a rod to be rotated about an axis at its left end (See Figure 1). A force F is applied at the
opposite end of the rod at an angle with the rod. Torque is defined as the vector product of the displacement vector r and the
force vector F. That is,
= r F
= r F sin.
But from Figure 1, F sin = Ftan.
Equation 1 shows that only the component of F perpendicular to r is effective in rotating a body.
Considering a net force F acting on a differential mass, dm,
𝑭𝒕𝒂𝒏 = ∫ 𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒎
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
GENERAL PHYSICS 1 (PHY01)
Therefore, 𝝉 = ∫ 𝒓𝟐 𝒅𝒎 𝜶
∫ 𝑟 2 𝑑𝑚 is the moment of inertia I of a body about an axis of rotation with the unit kg-m2. Therefore,
𝝉 = 𝑰𝜶 (eqn. 2)
Equation 2 shows that torque is directly proportional to the angular acceleration or the rate of change of angular speed of a body. But
we know that,
⃗
𝒅𝑳
⃗ = ⃗𝒓 𝒙 ⃗𝑭 =
𝝉 (eqn. 3)
𝒅𝒕
⃗
𝒅𝑳
∑𝝉
⃗ = (eqn. 4)
𝒅𝒕
Equation 4 shows that the sum of torques of several forces is equal to the rate of change of angular momentum of a particle.
A body that is in equilibrium must not rotate. If it is not rotating, then its angular momentum is zero; that is L = 0 and d L /dt
is also equal to zero. This leads us to the second condition for static equilibrium; for a body to be in equilibrium, the sum of all the
torques on a body, , must be equal to zero. Summarizing the two conditions for static equilibrium;
First condition:
=0
F
F x =0 F y =0 F x =0
Second condition:
LABORATORY PROCEDURES
Determining the Weight of the Pans
1. Setup the model balance as shown in Figure 1 and make sure that the axis of rotation is passing through the center of gravity
of the beam.
Figure 1 Figure 2
2. Mark your pans as P1 and P2. Place mass m1 on P1. Place the two pans on the beam so that the system is in equilibrium as
shown in Figure 2. Measure L1 and L2.
Using the 2nd Condition of Equilibrium, write an equation for the setup in Figure 2.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Take off the weight from P1 and place mass m2 on P2. Set the system again in equilibrium and measure L3 and L4. See
Figure 3.
Figure 3
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
GENERAL PHYSICS 1 (PHY01)
Using the 2nd Condition of Equilibrium, write an equation for the setup in Figure 3.
___________________________________________________________________________________
1. Use the second hole in the beam as the axis of rotation so that the center of gravity of the beam does not pass through the
new axis of rotation.
2. Place mass m1 on P1. Adjust its location so that the system will be in equilibrium, as shown in Figure 4.
3. Measure the distance of P1 and WB from the axis of rotation. Mark it as L1 and L2, respectively.
Figure 4
Using the 2nd Condition of Equilibrium, write an equation for the setup in Figure 4.
___________________________________________________________________________________
GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. Can two unequal weights be balanced in the model balance? How should the different weights be positioned in the model
balance to achieve equilibrium? yes, the greater the weight the nearer it is to the center and for the lesser weight should be placed 1 from the center to balance and have equilibrium
2. In Part B, why must the support of the beam be transferred to the second hole to determine its weight?
REFERENCES
• Experiment 104: Torque: 2nd Condition of Equilibrium from the Department of Physics, Mapúa University.
LABORATORY EXPERIMENT
GENERAL PHYSICS 1 (PHY01)
DATA SHEET
𝑚1 = _______
50 g
𝑚2 = _______
15 g
14 cm 7.5 cm 50 g