Experiment-1

Measuring the parameters of tiny particles

In this experiment, you will work with the easily available tiny particles in the kitchen

the black mustard seeds. Direct measurement of the parameters like mass, density,
volume etc. is very difficult for such tiny particles. In this experiment we will devise
ways to make the measurement of these parameters in innovative ways.

Apart from the seeds, you will need some other things like scales, threads, small
plastic cups and a long transparent bottle(preferably 2 litres).

Part 1: Measure the density of the seeds

To find the density of the seed, you will measure the mass of a handful seeds
occupying a certain volume. Suggested is a design of a beam balance which you can
make at home.

Make your own beam balance:

Take a plastic scale and find its centre of mass(C). Pass a loop of thread around C and
hang the scale from a support so that it is horizontal. Now, take two identical,
smallplastic cups (such as medicine cups having graduations) and with the help of
some arrangement,hang the cups from the scale. Make sure that the scale remains
horizontal. Mark the positions on the scale from where the two cups hang. Your beam
balance is ready. This is a suggestive design; you can think of your own designs for
making your ownbeam balance.

Measurement of mass of seeds:

Fill one cup with some volume of water. Note the level to which you have filled water.
In the other cup, tightly pack as many mustard seeds as you can up to the same level
{as the water in the first cup}. Now, use your beam balance to measure the mass of the
seeds.

Repeat this exercise two-three times by taking different volumes of water. Tabulate
your results. Calculate the density of the mustard seeds from your data.

Do you think this is the true density of the seeds?

Part 2:Density from terminal velocity

When an object is dropped in a liquid, it acquires a constant velocity after some time.
This velocity is called the terminal velocity of the object. For objects of size of mustard
seeds, the terminal velocity is achieved as the object moves few centimetres in the
liquid.
If the object is spherical in shape, the following relation gives the dependence of its
terminal velocity on the parameters like the radius r of the object, density of the

object, density of the liquid and viscosity of the liquid.

…(i)

You will use this relation for the mustard seeds which are nearly spherical.

Measurement of radius of seeds:

You will have to find the radius of 4-5 mustard seeds. You can approximately measure
the diameter of each seed with the help of your scale. You can also devise your own
ways to make the measurement with greater accuracy.

Measure the terminal velocity:

Fill the long 2L transparent bottle with water.Tie a thread on the surface of the bottle
at a depth of few centimetres from the surface of water as shown in the figure.
Measure the height h of the water column in the bottle below the thread. Now, drop a
mustard seed from some height (above the water level)whose radius you have already
measured and noted. Your seed will attain terminal velocity v by the time it reaches
the level of the thread.You have to measure this velocity of the seed after it has
reached the thread. You can use the stop watch of your mobile to measure the time
taken by it to travel the distance h. The velocity calculated is the terminal velocity of
the seed. Do it for four to five seeds. Tabulate your data.

Using the relation (i), you can find the density of mustard seeds. (You can use the
internet to find the value of viscosity of water at the temperature of your place.)

Question: Why is the density of seed obtained different from the density obtained
earlier?

Calculate the packing fraction:

Regular spherical objects when packed in a small volume arrange themselves in a
certain fashion leaving some air gaps in between them. The total actual volume of the
spheres taken together is less than the volume they occupy. Theratio of the actual
volume of the spheres and the occupied volume is called the packing fraction.

Calculate the packing fraction for mustard seeds using the above difference in the
densities obtained using the measurements made in the beam balanceand the
measurements made from the terminal velocity of seeds.

Extra exploration:

As you know, extra exploration is to think of extension of the experiment and there is
a separate credit for it. One such extra exploration can be to do the experiment with
some other spherical tiny objects.

Expectations:

1. Some relevant photographs(maximum 3) of the important stages of your

experiment, embedded in the pdf report.
2. Less than one-minute videos (one for each) as you take the readings of
i) mass of seeds in the beam balance
ii) the terminal velocity of seeds
3. Neatly tabulated observations and calculations.
4. Error analysis of the data and the results obtained.
5. A report describing your entire experiment, observations, graphs and inferences
in a pdf format.