THE UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND MATHEMATICS SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

COURSE NAME: PHYSICS LABORATORY PRACTICAL I

COURSE CODE: PH 11O3

COURSE INSRUCTOR: MR. MPANGO

EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 06

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT: FORCES ACTING ON METRE RULE

NATURE OF WORK: INDIVIDUAL LAB REPORT.

NAME OF STUDENT: PARMITORO K MELITA

REGISTRATION NUMBER: T21-03-08311

DEGREE PROGRAM: BSc EDUCATION.

YEAR OF STUDY: 2022/2023

DATE OF CONDUCTION: 29/12/2022

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 5/01/2023

STUDENTS PARTICULARS

S/N NAME REG. NUMBER SEX SIGN

1. SELEMAN MASALA T21-03-08640 M

2. CHACHA ALLY T21-03-04813 M

0
 3. ELICK FELIX T21-03-04863 M

TABLE OF CONTENT
ABSTRACT ..........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION. ................................................................................................................................3
THEORY .............................................................................................................................................4
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................6
DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................9
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS .................................................................................................................. 12
CONCLUSION. ..................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCE. .....................................................................................................................................14

1
 ABSTRACT
The aim of the experiment was to investigate the forces acting on a meter rule. The experiment
done under the aid of apparatus given such as two retort stands (stand A and stand B), a spring,
loops of threads, a 1m meter rule and 0.5m meter rule as well as a mass hanger. The apparatus
were arranged such that the two retort stands named stand A and stand B were put on the bench
parallel to each other at some distance and then, the spring and loop spring were tied to the rod
of clamp in stand A. Again, another loop of string was tied to the rod of clamp in stand B and the
spring and string were vertical and then a 1m ruler was held horizontally and parallel to the bench
supported by strings from both stands. Also a mass hanger was put perpendicular to the bench
at mid-point x=50cm from the end in stand A and distance between the end of ruler and the loop
of string attached to stand B was y=75.0cm. The length of the coiled section of the string was
determined to be 16.5cm and the distance between the ends of ruler to the loop of string
supporting mass hanger was 25.0cm. Then the distance x was varied by moving the loop
supporting the mass hanger to different positions so as to get more other six values of x and y
hence recorded in results table. Hence the calculation were carried out to obtain the value of R
which was 2636g.

But the results obtained are slightly different due to fact that some errors arises while performing
the experiment forinstance parallax error during reading the distance y on the meter rule also
error during balancing the ruler horizontally. But this errors can be minimized simply by
seriousness of experimenter while taking the readings.

2
 INTRODUCTION.
The force of gravity acts on all bodies on earth. Every bit of mass in the body has weight. The
whole weight seems to be concentrated inside or outside the body. This is the center of gravity
of the body. The weight of a body or object acts through its center of gravity.

Centre of gravity of an object is the point through which the total weight of the can be considered
to act.

The point where the total mass of the body seems to act is the centre of the gravity. The centre
of gravity of all bodies can be determined by balancing the body on knife-edge or by suspension
with plumb line from several points.

In most cases, the centre of gravity of a body lies in the body itself, but in few cases such as the
horse-show magnet, the retort stand, Bunsen burner, wine glass and conical flask, the centre
of gravity lies outside.

For centre of gravity outside of the body itself, the body will balance at any point on it which lies
along a vertical line passing through the center of the body.

Definition of principle of moments: when a body is in equilibrium, the sum of the anticlockwise
moment about any point is equal to the sum of the clockwise moments about that point.

The weight of an object is defined as the force of gravity on the object and may be calculated as
the mass times the acceleration of gravity. Since the weight is a force, its SI unit is Newton.

In the experiment on ivestigation of weight of the metre rule the both spiral spring spring and loop of
string was ensured that they are vertically and the meter rule lies horizontally as the bench while the mass
hunger is perpendicular to the bench also.

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 THEORY
The experiment is governed by the principal of moment, which states, “When a body is in equilibrium,
the sum of the anticlockwise moment about any point is equal to the sum of the clockwise moments about
that point.

The Centre of gravity of a body is a point through which the weight of the body acts, or appears to act. A
meter rule has a uniform shape and a constant density and so the Centre of Gravity will be a point exactly
in the middle of the rule (at the 50 cm mark).

The principle of moments states that an object is in equilibrium if the sum of all anticlockwise moments
about the pivot is equal to the sum of all clockwise moments about the same pivot.

If a meter rule is balanced horizontally at any point, this means that the clockwise moments and the
anticlockwise moments must be equal, however, this will not affect the accuracy of the experiment so as
long as the correct positions noted and later used in the calculation.

Consider the figure below;

T1 T2

CM Mass of load ( Wload )

Mass of ruler (Wruler )

Sum of clockwise moment = Sum of anticlockwise moment

( wruler x 0.5) + ( Wload × x ) = T2 × y

0.5wruler + Wload X = T2y to divide by T2 both sides

0.5wruler Wload X T2 y
+ =
T2 T2 T2

0.5wruler Wload X
y= +
T2 T2

4
 Wload X 0.5wruler
y= +
T2 T2

Wload 0.𝟓wruler
To let P = and Q =
T2 T2

y = P x + Q ……………………………………….1

To compare equation (1) with equation of straight line

y=Px+Q

y=Mx+C

Where ; P is the gradient and Q is the y-intercept of a line.

5
 METHODOLOGY
The following are the apparatus used in this experiment with their uses

i) A mass hanger- used for hanging the mass

ii) Two a retort stands and clamp- used to hold, or clamp equipment in place so that they do not
fall or come apart.
iii) A meter rule- used to measure the length of objects.
iv) Three loop of string –used for attaching slotted masses and meter rule
v) A spring– it used for hanging the meter rule

The set of experiment

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Figure 1

PRODUCERS.

1. The apparatus were set up as showed in figure 1 above.

2. A meter rule tied constant throughout the experiment at distance 25 cm from the end of the rule
to the loop of string then attached to the spring at stand A and again tied to the loop of string at
stand B; The distance between the end of the rule and the loop of string supported by the mass
hanger was x (cm) while the distance between the of the rule and the loop of string attached to
stand B was y (cm).

3. Also the position of the mass hanger adjusted to x = 50 .0 cm and y = 75.0 cm then the length
of the coiled section of the spring (v) recorded.

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4.The position of mass hanger with 500 Gm adjusted to 55 .0 cm then stand B moved and slide the
loop of the string to stand B along the rule until the length of the coiled section of the spring (v)
has the same value as obtained into step 3.

5. The step 4 repeated 4 times with increasing the value of x by 5.0 cm, the results were tabulated
in table of results.

6.A graph of y on the y-axis against x on the x –axis was plotted and the gradient was calculated
from the graph.

7.The mass of a meter rule was calculated.Young’s modulus, E of wood of the meter rule was
calculated.

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 DATA ANALYSIS

(iii) From the graph, to determine the gradient and y- intercept of the line.

But from the graph;

∆y (m)
Slope = ∆x(m)

Again, ∆𝑦 (m) = (y2 -y1 )m;

∆y (cm) = (88- 77) m

Again, ∆𝑥(m) = (𝑥2 − 𝑥1)𝑚

∆𝑙(m) = (73.6-53.6 m

∆y (m)
So; Slope = ∆x(m)

(88− 77)m
Slope = (73.6−53.6)m

11𝑚
Slope = 20 m

Slope = 0.55Type equation here.

∴From the graph the Gradient P (slope) is 0.55

From equation (1)

y=Px+Q

By comparing with equation of straight line; y = M x + C

y=Px+Q

y=Mx+C

P is the gradient, and Q is the y-intercept

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Now, from the graph; P is 0.55 and Q is 46m

∴ P is 0.55 and Q is 46 m

2m
(f) From theory suggests that; P = To make R as subject
(R+m)

2m
P= to multiply by (R + m) both sides
(R+m)

2m
(R+m) x P = x (R+m)
(R+m)

2m
P (R+m) = (1)

PR + Pm = 2m, to subtract by Pm both sides

PR + Pm – Pm = 2m-Pm

PR = 2m –Pm, to divide by P both sides

PR 2m−Pm
=
p P

2m−Pm
R= ………………………………….2
P

But the value of m = 0.100kg given and P = 0.55; to substitute into equation 2 above.

(2 x 0.1)−(0.55x 0.1)
R= 0.55

(0.2−0.055)Kg
R= = = 0.2636Kg
0.55

∴ The value of R ( Mass of meter rule) is 0.2636 Kg

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 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
From the experiment, when the value x increases it shows that the value of y increases
also.The mass of meter rule was found to be 2636g but the theoretical point of view it shows
that the mass of meter rule was 100g but this differences contributed to the fact that each
meter rule has got different mass depend on the nature of the material makes the ruler.

The results obtained may not be precise due to presence of errors like parallax while reading on
the measurement on the meter rule and also meter rule may not lay horizontally but due to
human perception my see as if was horizontally also the spiral spring and loop of string not be
vertically but the experimenter may see as was vertically .

11
 CONCLUSION.
The correct results will be obtained when, the experimenter ensure that, the theory is clearly understood
and it will give the actual value of the aim of the experiment. Again, the experimenter must take
precautions of avoiding errors like Carelessness, poor technique, or bias on the part of the experimenter.
The experimenter may measure incorrectly, or may use poor technique in taking a measurement, or may
introduce a bias into measurements by expecting the results to agree with the expected outcome with
the result obtain I advise when the other experimenter wants to perform this experiment on investigation
of forces acting on meter rule should be carefully so that to minimize the error which might happen during
the experiment.

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 REFERENCE.
1.Abbot A. F. (1980), Ordinary Level Physics, 3rd Edition, Heinemann Books International,
London.

2.Practical Physics Manual. College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. The University of
Dodoma in Tanzania.

3. Nelkon M. and Parker P., (1987), Advanced Level Physics, Heinemann Educational Publishers,
London

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