Que.

1 Practical experiments

AIM :
To verify the principle of moments [ i.e in equilibrium the sum of clockwise
moments is equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments]

APPARATUS:
 A clamp stand
 A meter rule
 50 gf weight
 100 gf weight

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METHOD

1. Suspend the metre rule at its centre of gravity

2. Suspend the 50gf weight at the 10 cm mark.
3. Balance he metre rule by placing the 100gf weight on the other side of
the metre rule
4. Note the distance ‘X’ which is the distance of 50 gf weight from the
centre of gravity and ‘y’ which is the distance of 100 gf weight from
the centre of gravity.
5. Repeat the experiment by placing the 50gf weight at 10cm, 20cm,
25cm marks respectively from the end of the left hand side of the
metre rule.
6. Balance the metre ruler by placing 100 gf weight on the other side in
each of the following cases
7. Note down the corresponding values of ‘x’ and ‘y’ in each case and
enter them in the observation table.

OBSERVATION

The centre of gravity = 49.9 cm.

TABLE
W1gf X W2gf Y W1xgf cm W2ygf cm

50 39.9 100 20 1995 gfcm 2000 gfcm

50 34.9 100 17.45 1745 gfcm 1745 gfcm

50 29.9 100 14.95 1495 gfcm 1495 gfcm

50 24.9 100 12.45 1245 gfcm 1245 gfcm

CALCULATION

Calculation the value o f W1x and W2y for each pair of observations
The value of W1x equal to W2y for each pair of observation

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PRECAUTION

1) Metre ruler must be suspended at its centre of gravity

2) Weight should be heavy and not swaying.
3) The experiment should not be performed under or near a fan

RESULT

Since the anticlockwise moments (W1xgfcm) is always equal to the

clockwise moments (W1ygf cm). The principle of moments is verified.

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AIM :
TO determine the mass of a metre ruler using the principle of moments

APPARATUS
A metre rule
A thread
A clamp stand
A hundred gram force weight.

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METHOD
1. Suspend the metre rule from the clamp stand using a thread. Find its
centre of gravity.
2. Suspend the metre rule at the 60cm mark at P. Adjust the 100 gf
weight from the other side so as to obtain a state of equilibrium.
Record the value of Q.
3. Use an observation table to find the values of x and y.
4. Use the observation principle of moments to calculate the weight of
the metre rule.
5. Repeat the experiment for P=65 cm.

OBSERVATION :
The centre of gravity of the metre rule = 49.9 cm

TABLE:

P cm Q cm X=P-Q cm Y= Q-P cm M=

60 71.6 10.1 11.6 114.8

65 82.3 15.1 17.3 114.7

PRECAUTION :

1. The loops of the thread hanging, the weight must be perpendicular to

the edge of the ruler.
2. The use f fan near the apparatus must be avoided.

RESULT

1. The average weight of metre ruler = 114.75 gf

2. The average mass of metre ruler = 114.75 g

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AIM :
To prove that MA <VR , MA = VR and MA > VR using a metre rule as a
lever where MA is mechanical advantage and VR is velocity ratio.

APPRATUS :

 A metre rule of uniform thickness calibrated in centimetre and

millimetre,
 A wooden wedge
 Thin thread of negligible weight and a set of weights (10gf and 20 gf)

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Principle:
According to the principle of moments the sum of clockwise moments is
equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments about the fulcrum in
equilibrium. i.e. -
Load x Load arm = Effort x Effort Arm

METHOD

1. Put the metre rule with fulcrum at 40 cm mark. Suspend a known

weight W gf at 10 cm mark. Suspend another load W1gf on the right
side of the fulcrum of the metre rule by adjusting the position of the
metre rule such that the metre rule balances in horizontal equilibrium
position at 60 cm mark.
2. Now shift the fulcrum at 50 cm mark and suspend the load on the left
side and the effort on the right side.
3. Now shift the fulcrum at 60 cm mark and suspend the load and effort
on the left side and the right side respectively on the metre rule.
4. In each case calculate MA and VR using relations –
Load Effort Arm
MA = ------ = ------------
Effort Load Arm

Distance of the effort from fulcrum

V.R. -------------------------------------------
Distance of the load from fulcrum

OBSERVATION

1) Least count of the metre rule

2) Mass of metre rule

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 TABLE :

Positon BE
Load Effort Position Position of Load Effort
No of B MA=E VR= ---
(L) (E) of F A (Load) arm arm
(Effort) AF
1 50 gf 40 gf 40 cm 10 cm 60 cm 30 cm 20 cm 1.25 0.67
31.25
2 50 gf 40 gf 50 cm 25 cm 81.25 cm 25 cm 1.25 1.25
cm
3 50 gf 40 gf 60 cm 50 cm 90 cm 10 cm 30 cm 1.25 3.0

RESULT :

CASE – I
Fulcrum at 40 cm mark, MA >VR
In equilibrium position of metre rule –
Clockwise moments = Anticlockwise moments
Load x Load arm = Effort x Effort arm
L x AF = (E x BF ) + m x 10

CASE – II
Fulcrum at 50 cm, MA = VR ,
L x AF = E x BF

CASE = III
Fulcrum at 60 cm mark , MA < VR
L x AF + m x 10 = E x BF

PRECAUTIONS

1. The weights should be suspended through a thin string.

2. The string tied to each weight should be parallel to the markings on
the metre scale at the time of the recording their positions
3. To conduct the experiment the laboratory environment should be free
from wind effects and vibrations
4. Ensure that the positon of the fulcrum should not be changed in
shifting the positon of effort.

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AIM :
To study the lateral displacement through the glass slab.

APPARATUS
 A drawing board
 A glass slab
 A white drawing sheet
 Drawing pins.

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METHOD:
1. Place the drawing sheet on the drawing board.
2. Place the glass slab in the centre of the drawing board and outline ‘
ABCD ‘ of the glass slap.
3. Mark point ‘O’ 2cm away from A. Draw a normal ‘MON’ .
4. Draw a line ‘OP’ such that angle ‘POM’ equals to 300 . This angle is
the angle of incidence.
5. Place two pins ‘P’ and ‘Q’ on the line ‘OP’ such that they are
perpendicular to the board.
6. On viewing the glass slab from side ‘CD’ place two pins ‘R’ and ‘S’
such that these two pins and the images of pins ‘P’ and ‘Q’ are in a
straight line.
7. Remove the pins and the glass slab. Join ‘SR’ to meet ‘CD’ at ‘T’ join
‘OT’
8. Extend ‘ PQO’ to obtain the original direction of the incident ray and
find the lateral displacement.
9. Repeat the experiment for angle ‘POM’ = 50

OBSERVATION TABLE

L in degrees 300 500

Lateral Displacement 1.3 2.0

RESULT
1. In each case the emergent ray ‘TRS’ is parallel to the extended ray
‘PQDE’
2. As the angle of incidence increases the lateral displacement increases.
Hence lateral displacement is directly proportional to the angle of
incidence.

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AIM:
To study refraction through a glass slab

OBSERVATION:
 A drawing board,
 A glass slab ,
 White drawing sheet of paper
 Drawing pins.

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METHOD:
1. Place the drawing sheet on the drawing board.
2. Place the glass slab in the centre of the drawing sheet. Draw its
outline ‘ABCD’
3. Mark point ‘O’ 2 cm away from A. Draw a normal ‘MON’
4. Draw a line ‘OP’ such that angle ‘POM’ equals to 300. This angle is the
angel of incidence
5. Place two pins ‘P’ and ‘Q’ on the line ‘OP’ such that they are
perpendiculars to the drawing board.
6. On viewing the glass slab from side ‘CD’ place two pins and the
images of the pins ‘P’ and ‘Q’ are in a straight line.
7. Remove the pins and the glass slab. Join ‘SR’ to meet ‘CD’ at ‘T’ Join
‘OT’
8. Repeat the experiment for POM = 500
9. Find the value of NOT in each case.

OBSERVATION TABLE
i r Sin i Sin r µ=

300 190 0.5000 0.3256 1.5

500 300 0.7660 0.5000 1.63

OBSERVATION

µ1 =

.
=
.

= 1.5

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µ2 =

.
=
.

= 1.53

µ1 + µ2
Average = ----------
2

1.5 + 1.53
Average = ----------
2

Average = 1.51

RESULT
1. The incident ray, the refracted ray and the normal lie in the
same plane at the point of incidence
2. The ratio of sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of angle of
refraction remain constant for media
3. The average of refractive index = 1.51

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AIM
To study refraction through a prism

APPARATUS :

 A prism,
 A wooden board,
 Sheet of paper ,
 Brass pins
 Object pins

PROCEDURE
1. Place a sheet of paper on the wooden board and fix it with
brass pins
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 2. Place the prism with its triangular face / side on the paper and
trace its outline ‘PQR’ on the paper.
3. Remove the prism and draw an incident ray ‘AB’ at angle of 300
with the normal.
4. Place two pins ‘J’ and ‘K’ on the ray ‘AB’ such that they are
perpendicular to the parallel board.
5. Replace the prism.
6. On viewing from side ‘PR’ fix two pins ‘L’ and ‘M’ such that the
image of ‘I’ and ‘K’ and ‘L’ an ‘M’ are in a straight line.
7. Remove the prism. Join ‘LM’ to obtain the emergent ray ‘CD’
JCD =e (angle of emergence)
8. Produce the emergent ray ‘AB’ forward

OBSERVATION TABLE

i E A A+ I+e

300 750 600 450 1050 1050

500 490 600 390 990 990

RESULT

1. At each refractive surface, the ray bends towards the base

2. The angle between the original direction of the incident ray
and the final direction of the emergent ray is the angle of
deviation.
3. A + = i + e in each case.

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AIM:
To determine the focal length of convex lens by the distant object
method.

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APPARATUS:
 A thin convex lens
 A lens holder,
 A small screen fixed to a stand
 Metre scale

PRINCIPLE
The light rays coming from a distant tree or a distant building can be
consider to be parallel to each other. A parallel beam of light incident
on a convex lens after refraction converges at a point on its other side
where a real , inverted image of very small size is formed at the focus
of the lens. The distance between the lens and the focus gives the
focal length.

METHOD
1. Take a thin convex lens and fix it on a lens holder. Place it on
table near an open window through which ample sunlight
enters. Place the lens face towards a distant tree.
2. Take a screen and fix it on a stand. Adjust the position of the
screen by shifting its positon back and forth to get a sharp and
bright image of a distant object in front of the convex lens. If
the sunlight is allowed to incident directly on the lens and
screen.
3. Repeat the experiment two more times by obtaining he bright
images on the screen of the two different distant objects.
4. Record the positions o t lens and the distant object in each case.

OBSERVATION
Least count on the metre scale = 0.1 cm

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TABLE

Distance between
Position of the
No Positon of the (L) the lens and
scree(S)
screen (b)

1 30.5 cm 20 cm F1=10.5 cm

2 14.0 cm 4 cm F2=10.0 cm

3 20.0 cm 9 cm F3=11.0 cm

(Mean focal length = 10 cm)

RESULT
The approximate value of focal length of the given convex lens = 10 cm

PRECAUTIONS
1. Lens should be placed vertically
2. Clean the lens before taking observation
3. Focus the image of the sun / distant object on the screen.
4. The image of the sun should never be seen directly with the
naked eye.

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AIM
To find the focal length of a biconvex lens using the auxiliary method.

APPARATUS

1. A lamp stand with the object pin.

2. Keep the plane mirror and the biconvex lens vertically below
the object pin.
3. Adjust the position of the object pin so that the object pin and
its image coincide with each other.
4. Record the focal length of the biconvex lens.

OBSERVATION

The focal length of the biconvex lens is 15cm.

RESULT
The focal length of the biconvex lens is 15 cm.

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AIM :

To study resonance in air column and also to study the relation

between the length of air column and frequency of air column.

APPARATUS:
A tall jar filled with water a hollow pipe, tuning forks of different
frequencies

PROCEDURE
1. Take a tall jar filled with water and place a hollow pipe inside
2. Take a tuning fork with frequencies of 512 Hz. Strike it against
a rubber pad and set it into vibrations.
3. Hold the vibrating tuning fork at the mouth of the hollow pipe
and adjust the pipe till a loud sound of the vibrating tuning fork
is heard.
4. Record the length of their column as shown in the figure.

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 5. Repeat the experiment for frequencies 426.6 Hz, 354 Hz,
288Hz, 256 Hz. Record the corresponding table .

OBSERVATION TABLE
Height of the air
No Frequency
column (in cm)

1 512 Hz 17

2 426 Hz 20

3 384 Hz 21

4 341 Hz 26

5 288 Hz 30

6 256 Hz 32

RESULT
1. When frequency of air column equals frequency of vibrating
tuning fork, the air column readily takes up vibrations and
begins to vibrate with a large amplitude, produces a louder
sound.
2. At resonance the air column vibrates with the frequency of the
fork and the length of the air column is inversely proportional
to each other.

PRECAUTION

1. There should be complete silence while performing the

experiment.
2. The zero of the scale must coincide with the water level of the
jar.

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AIM
To verify Ohm’s laws and to determine the unknown resistance.

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APPARATUS
1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the figure
2. Adjust the rheostat till the current (I) shown by the ammeter is
6A. Note and record the corresponding value of the voltmeter.
3. Adjust the rheostat and repeat the experiment for I= 0.5A ,
0.4A, 0.3A
4. Read and record the corresponding values of the voltmeter.
OBSERVATION TABLE

Current in a(I) 0.6 A 0.5 A 0.4 A 0.3 A

Voltage in V (V) 0.6 V 0.5 V 0.4 V 0.3 V

CALCULATION
1. Draw a graph of V against I
2. From the graph find :
a. The value of V1 when I= 0.45A
b. The value of V2 when I= 0.75A

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