EULOGIO “AMANG” RODRIGUEZ
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LAB 1
Experiment No. 2
By:
Leader: Porlaje, Lloyd Christian
Bersabal, Angelica
Gacosta, Janina Mikaela T.
Rabino, Emerald
Ogalesco, Kier Adrian B.
MARCH 25, 2025
Experiment no. 2
Measuring of Area
I. Objective
1. To know the method of measuring an irregular figure.
2. To familiarize with the use and care of planimeters.
II. Apparatus
polar planimeter, drawing instrument, Vernier caliper, and triangle.
III. Introduction
The method used in obtaining the area of an irregular figure like an indicator diagram is
by measuring the ordinates, and the other is by means of a planimeter variation method such as
the trapezoidal, Durand, and Simpson rules.
IV. Procedure
1. The instructor will assign the drawing of an irregular figure to students with different
sizes of strips "W".
We assigned 4 cm as our W or the width
2. Divide the figure into an even number of strips by parallel lines, with the given size of
strips "W". The accuracy increases as the number of strips is made larger. The notation
used in the following formulas is where Y0 is the length of the first ordinate, Y1 is the
second, etc. "n" is the number of strips, and "A" is the area of the figure. The following
formulas may be stated:
We assigned 12 as the value of n or the number of equally divided strips
Here's is the data table with different ordinates along with its graphical representation
Strip No Ordinates (cm)
0 4.6
1 5.0
2 5.7
3 6.5
4 7.3
5 8.1
6 8.8
7 8.4
8 7.3
9 6.6
10 5.7
11 4.9
12 4.3
a. Trapezoidal Rule:
A = W (0.5 Y0 + Y1 + Y2 + ... + Yn-1 + 0.5 Yn)
b. Durand’s Rule:
A = W (0.4 Y0 + 1.1Y1 + Y2 + ... Yn-2 + 1.1Yn-1 + 0.4Yn)
c. Simpson’s Rule:
A = W (Y0 + 4Y1 + 2Y2 + 4Y3 + ... 4Yn-3 + 2Yn-2 + 4Yn-1 + Yn)
3. With the aid of the formula of area, compute the area using the different methods.
Trapezoidal Rule Calculation
The Trapezoidal Rule formula is given by:
A = W[0.5(y₀) + y₁ + y₂ + ... + yₙ₋₁ +0.5( yₙ)]
Substituting the values:
A = 4[0.5(4.6) + +5.0 + 5.7 + 6.5 + 7.3 + 8.1 + 8.8 + 8.4 + 7.3 + 6.6 + 5.7 + 4.9+ 0.5(4.3)]
A = 315.00 cm²
Simpson’s Rule Calculation
The Simpson’s Rule formula is given by:
A = (W/3) [y₀ + 4(y₁ + y₃ + ... + yₙ₋₁) + 2(y₂ + y₄ + ... + yₙ₋₂) + yₙ]
Substituting the values:
A = (4/3) [4.6 + 4 (5.0 + 6.5 + 8.1 + 8.4 + 6.6 + 4.9) + 2 (5.7 + 7.3 + 8.8 + 7.3 + 5.7) + 4.3]
A = 315.33 cm²
Durand’s Rule Calculation
The Durand’s Rule formula is given by:
A = (W/3) [y₀ + 2(y₁ + y₂ + ... + yₙ₋₁) + yₙ]
Substituting the values:
A = (4/3) [4.6 + 2 (5.0 + 5.7 + 6.5 + 7.3 + 8.1 + 8.8 + 8.4 + 7.3 + 6.6 + 5.7 + 4.9) + 4.3]
A = 210.00 cm²
4. By using an available planimeter in the laboratory, first study the calibration or reading of
the available planimeter and find its constant. Use the test radius. Tabulate all results.
Trial No. Initial Final Difference Constant Area(cm²)
Reading Reading
1 120.5 225.75 105.25 3 315.75
2 130.25 235.50 105.25 3.02 317.83
3 110.75 216 105.25 3.01 317.28
Average 317.25cm²
5. With the use of a planimeter, measure the area of the figure. Compare the reading
obtained to the computed area. Compare also the area from your group mates having the
same figure and different sizes of strips.
Measurement Resulting Area (cm²)
Trapezoidal Rule 315
Durand's Rule 210
Simpson's Rule 315.33
Planimeter 317.25
V. Drawing and Figure:
The Planimeter and its Parts
VIII. Questions:
1. Compare the value obtained with the computed value.
Simpson’s Rule provides the most accurate and has the closest value to planimeter
reading with a computed value of 315.33 cm² since it considers parabolic interpolation,
while the Trapezoidal Rule is a good approximation which gives a result of 315 cm². On
the other hand, Durand’s Rule gives 210 cm² which generally underestimates the area as
it is a modification of the Trapezoidal Rule used in surveying.
2. What can you say if the number of strips is made larger? Explain.
If the number of strips is made larger, the accuracy of the area calculation improves. This
happens because of the three factors including:
A. Smaller Strip Widths Reduce Approximation Errors:
In the Trapezoidal Rule, each strip is treated as a straight-line segment. With more strips
(i.e., smaller widths), the straight-line segments approximate the actual curved boundary
more closely.
In Simpson’s Rule, a parabolic fit is applied. More strips ensure that the parabolic
interpolation aligns better with the actual shape.
B. Better Representation of Curved Surfaces:
If the given function or boundary is not linear, a larger number of strips provides a more
precise estimation of curved sections.
C. Convergence to the True Value:
In numerical integration, as the strip width approaches zero (more strips), the computed
area converges to the actual area. This is the basis of integral calculus.
On the other hand, when it comes to practical applications, increasing the number of
strips indefinitely has diminishing returns, as computational effort increases without
significantly improving accuracy beyond a certain point.
3. What is a planimeter?
A planimeter is a mechanical device used to measure the area of an irregular two-
dimensional shape by tracing its perimeter. It consists of a tracing arm, which follows the
boundary of the shape, and a measuring mechanism that calculates the enclosed area
based on the movement of the arm. The most common type is the polar planimeter, which
has a fixed anchor point and a rotating arm, while other variations include the linear and
digital planimeters. Planimeters are widely used in fields such as surveying, engineering,
and medicine for measuring land areas, cross-sections, and irregular surfaces with
precision.
4. Discuss and draw the different types of planimeters.
a.) Polar Planimeter
● The most common type, consisting of a fixed pole, a tracer arm, and an integrating wheel.
● The user traces the outline of the shape with the tracer point, and the area is obtained
from the movement of the wheel.
● Works best for irregular shapes and is widely used in surveying and engineering.
b.) Linear Planimeter
● Instead of a fixed pole, it moves along a straight track.
● It is useful for measuring areas where a polar planimeter may be inconvenient, such as
along long and narrow regions.
c.) Digital Planimeter
● A modern electronic version that provides digital readings of the area.
● Eliminates manual calculations, improving accuracy and efficiency.
● Often used in computer-aided design (CAD) and geographical information systems
(GIS).
d.) Rolling Planimeter
● Consists of a rolling cylinder that moves along the contour of the shape.
● Suitable for measuring large-scale maps and blueprints.
e.) Hatchet Planimeter
● A simpler, less precise version that consists of a weighted arm.
● Historically used but is now largely obsolete due to its lower accuracy.
5. What is the indicator diagram?
An Indicator Diagram is a graphical representation of the pressure variation inside a cylinder of
an internal combustion engine, steam engine, or any reciprocating compressor during its cycle. It
is obtained using an indicator device and is used to analyze engine performance, efficiency, and
mechanical faults.
Purpose of an Indicator Diagram
● Determines work done per cycle.
● Helps in calculating indicated power (IP) of the engine.
● Diagnoses faults in valve settings, leaks, and combustion issues.
● Optimizes fuel efficiency and engine performance.
6. Write the formula of each:
Oblique Triangle
• Area: (1/2) · a · b · sin(C)
Circle
• Area: π · r²
• Circumference: 2 · π · r
Square
• Area: a²
• Perimeter: 4 · a
Rectangle
• Area: length · width
• Perimeter: 2 · (length + width)
Regular Trapezoid (Isosceles Trapezoid)
• Area: ((b₁ + b₂) / 2) · h
• Perimeter: b₁ + b₂ + 2·l (where l is the length of the non‐parallel sides)
Regular Pentagon
• Area: (1/4) · √[5(5 + 2√5)] · a²
• Perimeter: 5 · a
Regular Hexagon
• Area: (3√3 / 2) · a²
• Perimeter: 6 · a
Regular Heptagon
• Area: (7/4) · a² · cot(π/7) (approximate formula)
• Perimeter: 7 · a
Regular Octagon
• Area: 2 · (1 + √2) · a²
• Perimeter: 8 · a
Monogon
• Note: In Euclidean geometry a monogon is degenerate. On a spherical surface it may be
defined with an area dependent on the sphere’s curvature.
Regular Decagon
• Area: (5/2) · a² · cot(π/10)
• Perimeter: 10 · a
Sector (of a Circle)
• Area (θ in degrees): (θ/360) · π · r²
• Area (θ in radians): (1/2) · r² · θ
• Arc Length (θ in degrees): (θ/360) · 2 · π · r
• Arc Length (θ in radians): r · θ
Ellipse
• Area: π · a · b, where a and b are the semi‐major and semi‐minor axes
Parabola
• Standard Equation: y = a · x² (with vertex at the origin)
• Focal Length (for y = a · x²): 1/(4a)
IX. Discussion:
The result based on the experiment irregular figure area measurement is necessary in many
scientific and engineering fields, and this may be done by numerical approximation techniques
like the Trapezoidal Rule, Simpson's Rule, and Durand's Rule. The Trapezoidal Rule estimates
the area by subdividing the figure into strips and considering each one as a trapezoid to get a fair
approximation. Simpson's Rule, based on parabolic interpolation, provides a more accurate
result, evident in the experiment in which its calculated area closely approximated the reading
using the planimeter. Durand's Rule, which is an extension of the Trapezoidal Rule, tends to
underestimate the area. The use of more strips makes it more accurate by decreasing
approximations, more accurately modeling curved surfaces, and coming closer to the calculated
value to the true area. A planimeter, a mechanical instrument that calculates irregular areas by
tracing their boundaries, is an efficient and accurate substitute for numerical computation.
Planimeters are commonly applied in surveying, engineering, and medicine where accurate
measurements must be made. In thermodynamics, indicator diagrams—pressure versus volume
graphs in engines—are read with planimeters to calculate the work done by the system. Also,
there are different geometric formulas for regular figures like circles, triangles, and polygons,
which enable direct calculation of areas. Although these formulas apply to standard shapes,
numerical integration techniques and planimeters offer real-world solutions for complicated and
irregular boundaries, showing the importance of these tools in research and engineering.
X. Conclusion:
The experiment provided an effective approach for measuring the area of an irregular figure
using different numerical integration methods and a planimeter. Among the methods tested,
Simpson’s Rule proved to be the most accurate, yielding an area of 315.33 cm², which closely
matched the planimeter measurement of 317.25 cm². This result can be attributed to Simpson’s
Rule's consideration of parabolic interpolation, which improves accuracy by accounting for
curvature in the figure. The Trapezoidal Rule also gave a reasonably accurate result of 315 cm²,
offering a good approximation, though it is less precise as it does not account for curvature as
effectively as Simpson’s Rule. In contrast, Durand’s Rule provided the least accurate result, with
an area of 210 cm², highlighting its limitation in irregular shape calculations.
The experiment further demonstrated that increasing the number of strips used in the calculations
improves accuracy. As the strip width decreases, the approximation of the curved boundaries
becomes more precise, reducing errors in the calculated area. However, beyond a certain point,
the accuracy improvement diminishes, making it unnecessary to use an excessive number of
strips for minimal gains. The use of the planimeter also validated the results of the numerical
methods, with the average measured area of 317.25 cm² closely aligning with the computed
values. Overall, the experiment confirmed that Simpson’s Rule is the most reliable numerical
method for area calculation, with results that are consistent with empirical measurements from
the planimeter. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of sufficient strip divisions for
enhanced accuracy while demonstrating the practical utility of the planimeter as a measurement
tool for irregular shapes.
XI. Reference:
