I SEM PHYSICS PRACTICALS

EXPERIMENT NO.: 01
DATE:
SURFACE TENSION

AIM: To determine the surface tension of water by capillary rise method.

APPARATUS: Beaker, capillary tube, Travelling Microscope, Retort stand, Rubber cork, needle.
1
FORMULA: T= hrdg dyne/cm
2
Where T = surface tension of water (dyne/cm)
h = height of the liquid (cm)
r = radius of the capillary tube (cm)
g = acceleration due to gravity (cm/sec2)
d = density of water = 1 gm/cm3
THEORY :
PROCEDURE:
1. A capillary tube of length about 20 cm is taken and cleaned with acidified potassium dichromate
solution to remove any traces of grease or oil. It
is then cleaned with pure water.
2. A needle is fixed to the capillary tube with
the help of a rubber cork.
3. The capillary tube is clamped vertically so
that the pointer just touches the water surface as
shown in the figure.
4, Due to surface tension, the water rises to a
certain height in side the capillary tube.
5. Adjust the microscope such that the
horizontal cross wire is exactly tangential to the
lower end of the water meniscus. Vertical scale
reading of the traveling microscope h1 is noted
in table 1.
6. Remove the beaker without disturbing the
capillary tube and adjust the microscope such that the horizontal cross wire is exactly tangential to the
tip of the needle. Vertical scale reading h2 is noted in table 1.
1
7. The difference h = h1 – h2 gives the height of the water rise in the capillary tube.
8. Clamp the capillary tube horizontally to the retort stand. Adjust the traveling microscope such that
vertical cross wire is tangential to the left of the bore and horizontal scale reading of the microscope is
noted. And then vertical cross wire is made tangential to the right of the bore and horizontal scale
reading is noted in table 2. Difference of the two readings gives the horizontal diameter of the bore.
9. Now the horizontal cross wire is made tangential to the top of the bore and vertical scale reading of
the microscope is noted in table 2. Similarly, horizontal cross wire is made tangential to the bottom of
the bore and vertical scale reading of the microscope is noted. Difference of the two readings gives the
vertical diameter of the bore.
10. The average diameter of the bore is determined and the radius of the bore is calculated.
11. The surface tension of water is determined by using formula.
1
T = hrdg dyne/cm
2

OBSERVATIONS:
1. Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 980 cm/sec2
2. Density of the water (d) = 1 gm/ cm3

Table1: Determination of height of the water level in the capillary tube using traveling
Microscope
L.C. of the traveling Microscope = S/N = 0.5 mm/50 = 0.01mm
= 0.001cm.
S. Reading of the vertical scale of the microscope when the horizontal wire is tangential to Height of
N the water
o level
Lower edge of the water meniscus Tip of the needle h = h1 − h2
Main Vernier Fraction Total Main Vernier Fraction Total (cm)
Scale Coinciden b = n  readin Scale Coincide b = n  reading
Reading ce L.C. g Readin nce L.C. a+b
a (cm) n (cm) a+b g n (cm) (cm)
(cm) a (cm)
1

Table 2: Determination of diameter of the capillary tube

S.No. Microscope Position Main Vernier Fraction Total Diameter
reading of the Scale Coincidence b=n  reading of the bore
cross wire Reading (n) L.C. a+b (cm)
a (cm) (cm) (cm)
1 vertical scale Top of the
reading when bore
the horizontal
wire is bottom of
tangential to the bore
2 horizontal scale left of the
reading when bore

2
 the vertical Right of
wire is the bore
tangential to

Average diameter of the bore (d) = cm

Radius of the bore (r) = cm
CALCULATIONS:

PRECAUTIONS:
1. Tangential screw should be used to move the microscope.
2. The tip of the needle should just touch the water surface.
3. While taking readings, the travelling microscope should be moved in one direction only to avoid
back-lash error.

RESULT: Surface tension of water (T) = dyne/cm

EXPERIMENT NO.: 02
DATE:
YOUNG’S MODULUS

AIM: To determine the young’s modulus of the material of the body by non uniform bending method.
APPRATUS: A uniform a rectangular bar, Two knife edges, slotted weights, Travelling Microscope,
screw gauge, Vernier calipers, pin.
gl 3  M 
FORMULA: Young’s modulus of the bar Y = 3   dyne/cm
2
4bt  e 
Where, g = acceleration due to gravity = 980 cm/sec2
l = distance between the knife edges – cm
b = breadth of the scale - cm
t = thickness of the scale - cm
m = mass attached at the centre of the scale – gm
e = depression for mass m – cm

PROCEDURE:
1. Rectangular bar is arranged as shown in the figure.
2. The breadth of the scale is measured using the Vernier caliperse.
3. The thickness of the scale is measured using screw guage.
4. The distance between the knife edges ‘l’ is
measured.
5. Pin is attached on the scale vertically at
50th cm.
6. A Traveling Microscope is focused on to
the pin so that the inverted image of the tip
of the Pin just coincides with the
horizontal cross wire. Vertical scale
reading is noted in table 1.
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 7. Now a mass of 50 gm is attached to the hook. Vertical scale reading is noted. The experiment
is repeated with increasing load in steps of 50 gm and corresponding readings are noted in
table 1.
8. The experiment is repeated in the case of unloading. Readings are noted in the table 1.
9. From the tabular form we can calculate the value of M/e. The young’s modulus of the material
of the bar is calculated by using the formula.
gl  M 
3
Y= 3   dyne/cm
2
4bt  e 

OBSERVATIONS:
Table 1: Determination of M/e value by using traveling microscope
L.C. of the traveling Microscope = S/N = 0.5 mm /50 = 0.01mm = 0.001cm
Mass attached Reading of the traveling Depression
S. No. M Microscope for 50 gm M/e
(gm) (cm) e (gm/cm)
While While Mean (cm)
loading unloading
1 0 ----- -----
2 50
3 100
4 150
5 200
6 250

Average M/e = gm/cm.

Table 2: Finding the breadth of the scale using vernier calipers.

L.C. of the vernier Calipers = S/N = 0.1cm/10 = 0.01 cm.

S. No. Main Scale Vernier Fraction Total Reading

Reading (M.S.R) coincidence b = n  L.C. (a + b)
a n (cm) (cm)
(cm)

Table 3: Determination of thickness of the scale using Screw Gauge

4
Zero error = Zero Correction =

S. No. Pitch Scale Reading Head scale Reading Fraction Total Reading
(P.S.R.) n b = n  L.C. (a + b)
a Observed Corrected (mm) (mm)
(mm)

Average thickness of the scale = mm

= cm

CALCULATIONS:

PRECAUTIONS:

1. The beam should be arranged symmetrically.

2. The Microscope screw must be turned in only one direction to avoid back lash error.

RESULT: Young’s Modulus of the material of the bar = dyne/cm2

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EXPERIMENT NO.: 03

DATE:

BIFILAR PENDULUM

AIM: To determine the moment of inertia of a rectangular body by Bifilar pendulum.

APPARATUS: Bifilar suspension apparatus, stop watch, vernier calipers.
FORMULA:

mgd1d 2  T 2 
Moment of inertia I = 2
  gm-cm (Experimental)
4  h 
2

m(l 2 + b 2 )
I= gm-cm2 (Theoretical)
12

Where, m = mass of the body - gm

g = Acceleration due to gravity = 980 cm/sec2

2d1 = Distance between AB - cm

2d2 = Distance between PQ - cm

T = time period of oscillation - sec

h = Vertical height of the body from the point of suspension - cm

l = length of the body - cm

b = breadth of the body - cm

PROCEDURE:

1. The given rectangular body is suspended from the

rigid support by means of two strings of equal length.

2. The body is twisted through the small angle about the

vertical axis through its centre of gravity and is released.

3. Time for 20 oscillations is noted twice and the average

is calculated. The period of oscillation T is calculated.

4. The distance between A & B is noted as 2d1, The

distance between P & Q is noted as 2d2. The vertical
height ‘h’ is also noted.

5. The experiment is repeated by varying height ‘h’. The

readings are noted in the table 1.

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 6. The experiment can also be repeated by suspending the body with other faces horizontally and the
readings are tabulated. From the table we can calculate moment of inertia of the given rectangular
body experimentally.

7. The length ‘l’ breadth ‘b’ thickness ‘t’ and mass ‘m’ of the rectangular body are measured. From
these values we can calculate the moment of inertia of the body theoretically by using the formula.

m(l 2 + b 2 )
I= gm-cm2 (Theoretical)
12

OBSERVATIONS:

Table 1: Determination of the moment of inertia from experiment.

Axis Vertical Distance Time for 20 oscillations Time T2 mgd1d 2  T 2 

height period I=  
(cm) t 4 2  h 
h T = t/20
(sec) (sec2) (gm-cm2)
(cm) (sec)
2d1 2d2 Trial I Trial II Mean (t)

X-axis
1
Ix =
2
Ix =
Yaxis

1
Iy =
2
Iy =
Zaxis

7
1 Iz =

2 Iz =

Average Ix = gm-cm2

Average Iy = gm-cm2

Average Iz = gm-cm2

Table 2: Determination of the moment of inertia theoretically

Axis Length Breadth m(l 2 + b 2 ) Practical values of

I=
12
l b I
2
(gm-cm )
(cm) (cm) (gm-cm2)

X – axis

Y – axis

Z – axis

CALCULATIONS:

8
PRECAUTIONS:

1. The twisting angle must be small.

2. Readings should be noted without parallax error.

RESULT:

The moment of inertia of a rigid body along X, Y, and Z-axes are determined and are compared with
theoretical values.

EXPERIMENT NO.: 04
DATE:
FLY WHEEL

AIM: To determine the moment of inertia of a fly wheel about its axis of rotation.
APPARATUS: Fly –wheel, Stop-watch, a known mass, metre scale, Vernier calipers
n2 m  2 gh 2 
FORMULA: Moment of Inertia of fly wheel I =  2 − r  gm-cm
2
n1 + n2   
Where n1 = no. of turns of the thread wound around the axle
n2 = no. of rotations after falling of the weight
m = mass attached to the thread – gm
g = acceleration due to gravity – cm/sec²
h = height of mass from the ground. – cm
r = radius of the axle of the flywheel – cm
4 n2
 = angular velocity of the fly wheel = rad/sec
t
t = time taken for n2 rotations - sec

PROCEDURE:
1. The radius of the axis of the fly wheel is noted using
Vernier calipers and noted in table 1.
2. A known mass ‘m’ say 100gm is attached to the one end of
the string. The other end is fixed to the axis with slipping
loop.
3. The height of the weight from the ground is measured.
4. The number of turns n1 of the thread wound around the
axis is noted.
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 5. Time taken for n2 rotations is noted with the help of Stop clock.
6. The experiment is repeated for different values of height and the readings are noted in the table 2.
7. The moment of inertia of fly wheel is calculated by using the formula
n m  2 gh 
I = 2  2 − r 2  gm-cm2
n1 + n2   

Table 1: Determination of the radius of the axle using the vernier calipers:
L.C. of the vernier Calipers = S/N = 0.1cm/10 = 0.01 cm.
S. No. Main Scale Vernier Fraction Total Reading
Reading (M.S.R) coincidence b = n  L.C. (a + b)
a (cm) n (cm) (cm)

Average diameter of the axle (d) = cm

Average radius of the axle (r) = cm
Table 2: Determination of moment of inertia of Fly wheel

OBSERVATIONS:
1. Mass attached to the String (m) = 100 gm
2. Radius of the Axle (r) = cm.

No. of rotations Time taken for n2

n2 Rotations t (sec) 4 n2 n2 m  2 gh 2 
S. = I=  −r 
h Trial Trial Mean Trial Trial Mean t ω 2 n1 + n2   2 
No
n1 (cm) I II I II t (rad /sec) (gm-cm2)
(rad /sec)

CALCULATIONS:

10
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The String should be wound without overlapping.
2. The loop should be loose.

RESULT: The moment of inertia of the given fly wheel = gm-cm2

EXPERIMENT NO.: 05
DATE:

TORSIONAL PENDULUM

Aim: To determine the modulus of rigidity of a copper wire using torsional pendulum.

Apparatus: Circular metal disk, . Screw gauge , Stop watch , copper wire Vernier calipers, e.tc.

4  MR 2  l 
Formula: modulus of rigidity  =  2
a4 T 

Where M=mass of the Circular metal disk

R=Radius of the Circular metal disk

a= Radius of the copper wire

l=length of the copper wire

T=time period

Theory: A torsional pendulum consist of a uniform metal disc is suspended by a wire as shown in
the figure If we draw the disk rotated though a small angle .This gives a twist to the wire. When the
disc is released then it will oscillate in a horizontal plane. These oscillations are tensional oscillations
and hence the arrangement is known as torsional pendulum.
With in elastic limit the torque (  ) is proportional to the angle displacement (  ).

 = -k  ------------------------------(1)
Where k = torsional constant ( couple per unit twist)
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 d 2
But  = I  = I ----------------------(2)
dt 2
From equation (1) and (2) we have,
d 2
I 2 = -k 
dt
d 
2
k
2
=−  ----------------------(3)
dt I
This equation is similar to standard S.H.M equation.
d 2x
2
= − 2 x ---------------------------(4)
dt
From equation (3) and (4) we get,
k
2 = and x = 
I
 The time period of torsional oscillation is given by
2 2 I
T= = = 2 --------------------(5)
 k k
I
Torque per unit twist of a wire of length ‘ l’, radius of cross section ‘ a’ of material of rigidity
modulus ‘ ’ is given by
a 4
k=
2l
Moment of inertia of a circular disk about a vertical axis passing through its centre is given by
1
I = MR 2
2
By substituting the value k and I equation (5) we get,
1
MR 2
MR 2 2l MR 2 l
T = 2 2 = 2  . = 2 
 a 4 2  a 4  a 4
2l
Squaring on both sides
MR 2 l
T 2 = 4 2
 a 4
4  2 MR 2  l 
 =  2  -----------(6)
a4 T 
Procedure: 1) The disk is rotated through an angle and is
then released. It execute
S.H.M
2) By means of a stop watch time for 10 oscillations is noted .then the time
Period ‘T’ is calculated.
3) The length of the wire ‘l’is measured with a scale. By changing the length
of the wire the time period is noted in each case.
4) The mean radius of the wire ‘a’ is determined using screw gauge.
5) The mass ’m’ of the disk is determined using spring balance.
6) The mean radius of the disk ‘R’ is determined using a scale.
7) The rigidity modulus ‘  ’ is calculated by using the formula
4  2 MR 2  l 
=  2
a4 T 

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Table: Dermination of the value of l/T2

S.No Length of the Time for 10 oscillations T=x/10 T2 l/T2

copper wire(l)
Trial I Trial II Mean(x) Sec sec2 c.m /sec2
c.m
Sec

1 40

2 50

3 60

4 70

5 80

6 90

Mean value
of l/T2

Table 2: Determination of the radius of the circular metal disk using the vernier calipers:
L.C. of the vernier Calipers = S/N = 0.1cm/10 = 0.01 cm.
S. No. Main Scale Vernier Fraction Total Reading
Reading (M.S.R) coincidence b = n  L.C. (a + b)
a (cm) n (cm) (cm)
1
2

Average diameter of the circular metal disk (D) = cm

Average radius of the circular metal disk (a) = D/2 cm

Table 3: Determination of radius of the radius of copper wire using Screw Gauge:
Zero error = Zero Correction =

S. No. Pitch Scale Reading Head scale Reading Fraction Total Reading
(P.S.R.) n b = n  L.C. (a + b)
a Observed Corrected (mm) (mm)
(mm)
13
 1

Average diameter of the copper wire (d)= mm= c.m

Average radius of the copper wire = d/2 = cm
Graph: A graph is drawn by taking l values on X-axis and T2
values on Y-axis. The graph is a straight line. From the graph, the
value of T2 corresponding to l is noted. By substituting this value
in the above formula we can calculate the modulus of rigidity of
the given copper wire.

Precautions: 1) The wire should be straight without kicks.

2) The disk should rotate about the axis of the wire
and should not oscillate like a
simple pendulum.
3) Readings should be noted without parallax error.

Result: The modulus of rigidity of the given copper wire  = Dyne/c.m2

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