3B Scientific Torsion Axle User Manual

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3B SCIENTIFIC
Instruction sheet
®
PHYSICS
Torsion Axle U20050
1 Circular disc
2 Cross bar
3 Mount for test bodies
4 Spirit level
5 Bracket with coiled spring
6 Support rod
7 Weights
1. Safety instructions
If the coiled spring is too tightly wound, there is the danger that high centrifugal forces cause the test bodies to be hurdled away.
Do not displace the test bodies more than a maxi-
mum of 360° (180° is recommended).
2. Description
The torsion axle with its corresponding accessories and parts are used to investigate rotational oscilla­tion and for determining the moments of inertia of various sample objects from the period of oscillation.
The torsion axle consists of a shaft with twin ball races which is coupled to a bracket by a coiled spring. A support rod permits assembly on a stand base or a table clamp. A spirit level is provided so that the tor­sion axle can be aligned to the horizontal. The test bodies are a cross bar with weights that can be moved along its length and a circular disc with one hole in the centre and eight away from the centre for determining moments of inertia for eccentric axes of rotation and confirming Steiner’s theorem.
3. Equipment supplied
1 shaft with bracket, coiled spring, support rod and mount for test bodies
1 cross bar
2 weights
1 circular disc
4. Technical data
Restoring torque of the spring: 0.028 Nm/rad
Height of the torsion axle: approx. 200 mm
Cross bar:
Length: 620 mm Mass: approx. 135 g Weights: 260 g each
Circular disc:
Diameter: 320 mm Mass: 495 g Boreholes: 9 Borehole spacing: 20 mm
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5. Accessories
6. Theory
Set of Test Bodies for Torsion Axle U20051
Fig. 1 Set of Test Bodies for Torsion Axle
1 Wooden sphere, 2 Mounting plate, 3 Solid cyl­inder, 4 Wooden disc, 5 Hollow cylinder
The accessories for the torsion axle (U20050) consist of two cylinders with nearly identical weights but different weight distributions, a mounting plate for the cylinders, a wooden disc and a wooden sphere.
Hollow cylinder (metal):
External diameter: 90 mm Height: 90 mm Mass: approx. 425 g
Solid cylinder (wood):
Diameter: 90 mm Height: 90 mm Mass: approx. 425 g
Mounting plate:
Diameter: 100 mm Mass: approx. 122 g
Wooden disc:
Diameter: 220 mm Height: 15 mm Mass: approx. 425 g Moment of inertia: 0.51 kgm
2
Wooden sphere:
Diameter: 146 mm Mass: approx. 1190 g Moment of inertia: 0.51 kgm
2
To determine various moments of inertia for differ­ent test bodies, these objects are placed on a ball­bearing supported shaft which has a coiled spring attached. The coiled spring is subjected to restoring torque D. The oscillation period
T
of the torsion
pendulum results in the moment of inertia J.
T π= 2
J
D
D
J
=
2
4
π
2
T
The values determined experimentally confirm the findings theoretically postulated for a body of the mass m, whose mass elements
r
z around a fixed axis:
tance
n
1z
=
2
2
=Δ=
z
z
dmrrmJ
Δm rotate at a dis-
7. Operating notes
Mount the torsion axle in a tripod stand and
align it horizontally using the spirit level.
Do not adjust the screws that press the securing
spheres to the rod. (They are adjusted so that the weights can be moved along the rod but are not forced outwards by centrifugal forces.)
Always arrange the experiment so that the spring is
compressed and not extended.
Start the oscillation by turning the rod 180°
(max. 360°).
Determine the oscillation period from several
measurements by forming the mean value out of e.g. 5 oscillations.
Note down the exact value of the restoring torque
D on the torsion axle or in the operating manual. This value is used to determine the moment of inertia J from the oscillation period T.
8. Experiments
To perform the experiments the following apparatus are required (recommended):
1 Stand Base Tripod, 185 mm U13271 1 Digital Stopwatch U11902 1 Precision Dynamometer 1 N U20032
1 Set of Test Bodies for Torsion Axle U20051
8.1 Determination of the restoring torque D
Insert the rod without weights onto the torsion axle.
Attach the 1 N dynamometer to the rod so that it
acts perpendicularly to it.
At distances of r = 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm from
the centre of the rod measure the force F needed to rotate the rod from its state of equilibrium by about
α = 180°.
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Torque:
rFM =
Restoring torque:
=MD
α
8.3.2 Solid cylinder (SC) and hollow cylinder (HC)
Attach the mounting plate (P) to the torsion axle.
Determine the moment of inertia J(P).
Place a cylinder onto the mounting plate (P).
Determine the moments of inertia J(SC + P) and
J(HC + P).
Determine the moments of inertia
J(SC) = J(SC + P) – J(P) J(HC) = J(HC + P) – J(P) by subtracting.
Fig. 2 Determination of the restoring torque
8.2 Dependency of the moment of inertia J on the distance r, in which a mass m rotates round a fixed axis
Attach the rod without weights to the torsion axle.
Determine the moment of inertia J(rod).
Arrange the weights at symmetrical distances of
r = 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm from the centre of the rod.
Determine the moment of inertia J(rod + weights).
Calculate the moment of inertia J(weights) =
J(rod + weights) – J(rod).
Fig. 3 Dependency of the moment of inertia J on the
distance r
8.3 Comparison of the moments of inertia of cylinders of the same weight but with different weight distribution
8.3.1 Wooden disc (WD)
Attach the wooden disc (WD) to the torsion axle.
Determine the moment of inertia J(WD).
Fig.4 Determination of the moment of inertia of a
wooden disc
Fig. 5 Comparison of the moments of inertia of cylin-
ders
8.4 Determination of the moment of inertia of a sphere (S)
Attach the sphere (S) to the torsion axle.
Determine the moment of inertia J(S).
A comparison of the sphere with the wooden disc (refer to 8.3.1.) reveals that they both have the same moment of inertia. Spheres (S) and wooden discs (WD) have the same moment of inertia if the follow­ing holds true with regard to their mass
R
:
radii
4
)WD()WD( RmRm =
5
22
)S()S(
Fig. 6 Determination of the moment of inertia of a
sphere
m
and their
8.5 Dependency of the moment of inertia J on the distance a between the rotation axis and the axis of the centre of gravity, verification of Steiner’s theorem
Attach the round disc to the torsion axle and
align it horizontally.
Start the disc turning about its centre of gravity
(a = 0).
Determine the moment of inertia J
Determine the moments of inertia J
.
0
for different
a
distances of a = 2 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm......16 cm be-
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tween the rotation axis and the axis of the centre of gravity.
Re-adjust the horizontal alignment of the disc
after each change of distance a.
JJ
Form the ratios =
Thus Steiner’s theorem
a
2
0a
constant
2
maJJ +=
0a
is verified.
Fig. 7 Verification of Steiner’s theorem
3B Scientific GmbH • Rudorffweg 8 • 21031 Hamburg • Germany • www.3bscientific.com
Subject to technical amendments
© Copyright 2011 3B Scientific GmbH
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