Experiment 11 mechanics

In this experiment, you will find the relationship between the balancing point of a V-shaped beam and
angle, θ, between it arms.

(a) Make a knife-edge by mounting the razor blade on the small piece of cardboard provided. Clamp the
knife-edge using a retort stand.
(b) Mark out a scale on the whole length of one of the long pieces of cardboard provided.
(c) Place the two pieces of cardboard exactly on top of each other such that the graduated side faces
upwards.
(d) Stick a pin through the two pieces of cardboard at a point 2cm from one end an equidistant from the
long edges.
(e) Read and record the distance, x, from the hinge to the free end.
(f) Make a V-shaped beam by drawing out two arms.
(g) Adjust the arms so that the angle θ between them is 500C. Use cello tape to hold the arms in this
position.
(h) Balance the beam on the knife edge as shown in figure below.

θ
y

Fig 1.

(i) Read and record the distance, y, from the knife-edge to the free end.
(j) Repeat the procedures (g) to (i) for values of θ = 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000.
(k) Tabulate your result and include values of (x-y).
(l) Plot a graph of θ against (x-y) and find the slope s of the graph.

Procedure II
In this experiment you will find the relationship between the periods of oscillation of a V-shaped
beam angle between its arms.
(a) Adjust the pieces of the cardboard, used in part 1, so that the angle θ between them is 300
and hold the arm in this position
(b) Balance the beam on the knife edge.
(c) Set the beam oscillating and find the time for 20 oscillations. Calculate the period T of
the oscillations
(d) Repeat procedures (a) to (c) for values of θ = 400,500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000.
(e) Tabulate your results
(f) Plot a graph of T against θ
(g) Read, from the graph, the minimum value T0 of T and the corresponding value θ0 of θ