Calculations and Results

Two sets of values were measured for the length of wires, distance between wires and the
time taken for 50 oscillations and these values were used to calculate a mean value for the
parameters. Table x illustrates the results obtained.

Table 1: Experimental values obtained for experiment 2.

Length of wires/m L1 L2 Average length, L

0.516 0.514 0.515
Distance between D1 D2 Average distance, d
wires/m 0.074 0.074 0.074
Time taken for 50 T1 T2 Average time taken, t
oscillations/s 55.0 54.2 54.6

Mass of rotor, M =1.09kg.

Calculation of periodic time, T
The periodic time is calculated as follows:
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 50 𝑂𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑐 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
50
𝑡
𝑇=
50
54.6
𝑇=
50
𝑇 = 1.092𝑠

Calculation of the moment of inertia, I

The moment of inertia is obtained using the formula below:
𝑀𝑔𝑑 2 𝑇 2
𝐼=
16𝜋 2 𝐿
1.09 ∗ 9.81 ∗ 0.0742 ∗ 1.0922
𝐼=
16 ∗ 𝜋 2 ∗ 0.515
𝐼 = 8.586 ∗ 10−4 𝑘𝑔𝑚2
Apparatus
1. A system which comprises of a spring with its upper end clamped to the portal frame
is the system and its lower end bolted to a rod connected with a platform.
2. Vernier depth gauge.
3. 0.4 kg loads.
4. Stopwatch.

Procedure
Part 1:
1. The initial length of the spring is measured using the Vernier depth gauge and the value
is recorded in table x
2. Loads of 0.4kg are added to the platform until a load of 6kg is achieved. The
displacement of the spring is measured and recorded on table x after each increments
of 0.4kg.
3. Once the maximum load is reached, the length of the spring is recorded. The spring is
then unloaded with decrements of 0.4kg. The displacement of the spring is measured
after each decrement.
4. The values of extension for the respective loading and unloading are used to calculate
a mean value for the extension of the spring. The results obtained are shown in table 1.
5. The results obtained are used to plot a graph of extension against load.
Part 2:
1. A load of 2kg is placed on the platform. The spring is displaced vertically downwards
and released. The spring is allowed to stabilized and the time taken for 20 oscillations
is recorded.
2. The platform is loaded with increments of 0.4kg until a maximum load of 6kg. The time
taken for the spring to make 20 oscillations is measured for each increment. The values
obtained are tabulated in table x.
3. The results obtained are used to plot a graph of T2 against M.