Gaurav Singh Parallelogram Law of Vectors

Parallelogram Law of Vectors
Objective :
Our objective is to find the weight of a given body using the
Parallelogram Law of Vectors
Materials Required :
•Parallelogram Law of Forces apparatus (Gravesand's apparatus)
•Plumb line
•Two hangers with slotted weights
•A body (a wooden block) whose weight is to be determined
•Thin strong thread
•White drawing paper sheet
•Drawing pins
•Mirror strip
•Sharp pencil
•Half meter scale
•Set squares
•Protractor
Theory:
This experiment is based on parallelogram law of Vectors
If two vectors acting simultaneously on a particle are represented in
magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram
drawn from a point, then their resultant is completely represented in
magnitude and direction by the diagonal of that parallelogram drawn
from that point
Parellogram Law of vector explained

If two vector a and b represent two sides of parellogram as shown in
above figure as OACB ,they act on same point O.Then
Diagonal of Parellogram represent the resultant
On a Gravesand's apparatus, if the body of unknown weight (say S) is
suspended from the middle hanger and balancing weights a and b are
suspended from othe two hangers then
a +b =R
R^2 = a^2 + b^2 + 2ab cos (theta)
The unknown weight can be calculated from the above
equation.
Now construct a parallelogram OACB by assuming a scale (say 1cm=20
gwt) corresponding to the weights P and Q. The diagonal of the
parallelogram OC will give the resultant vector. The weight of the
unknown body
S = OC * Scale
If W is the actual weight of the body, then the percentage error in the
experiment can be calculated using the equation
Real Lab Procedure:
1:Set up the Gravesand's apparatus and ensure its board is vertical. This can be
tested using the plumb line. Test if the pulleys (let us name them - P1 and Q1) are
frictionless. If there is any friction, oil them.
Fix the white drawing paper sheet to the board using the drawing pins.
2:Take three pieces of strong threads and tie one end of all three together to make
a knot. (Let us name this knotted end - O). This knot becomes the junction of the
three threads.
3:From the other ends of the two threads, tie a weight hanger with the same
slotted weights in each; Name these weights as P and Q
5:From the end of third thread tie the given body, which is the wooden block, which is
named as S.
6:Pass the threads with weights P and Q over the pulleys and let the third thread with
the block S, stay vertical in the middle of the board.
7:The weights P, Q and the wooden block S acts as the three forces along the three
threads. At the junction O, the forces are in equilibrium.
8:Now adjust the weights P and Q (forces) such that the junction O stays in equilibrium
slightly below the middle of the paper.
9:Ensure that all the weights hang freely and that none of them touch the board or the
table.
10:Mark the position of junction O on the paper using a sharp pencil.
11:Slightly disturb the weights P and Q and then leave them.
12:Once settled, note the position of junction O. Make sure that this point is very close
to the earlier position.
13: Take the mirror strip and keeping it lengthwise under each thread, mark the
position of the ends of the image of the thread in the mirror, covering the image by the
thread. These new positions are P1, P2 for the thread with the weight P, and Q1 and Q2
for the thread with the weight Q and S1, S2 for the thread with the weight S.
14:Remove the paper from the board and with the help of the half metre scale draw
lines through the points P1 and P2 to represent P, through points Q1 and Q2 to
represent Q and through points S1 and S2 to represent S.Must meet at O
15:Assuming a scale of 1cm = 20 g, mark OA = 3 cm and OB =3 cm to represent P=150g
and Q= 150g.
16:Complete parallelogram OACB using the set squares and join OC. This represents
the resultant vector R which corresponds to the weight S.
17:Measure OC and multiply it by the scale (20 g) to get the value of the unknown
weight (S).
18:For different sets of observation, change P and Q suitably.
19:We can find the weight of the wooden block (R) using the equation (1).
20:Take the mean of the two values to get the actual weight of the body.
21:To find the percentage error in the experiment, measure the actual weight of the
body using a spring balance.
22:Calculate the percentage error using equation (3)
Simulator Procedure:
Click on any of the object to select it.
1:Change the hanging weights both on the right and left side, using the slider.
2:Click on the show parallelogram button that gives you the parallelogram
based on the weights on the left and right.
3:Click on the show parallelogram button that gives the
parallelogram based on the weights on the left and right.
4:Click on the show protractor button and measure the angle AOB
using the protractor.
5:Use the show scale button to use the scale to take the diagonal
length of the parallelogram.
6:Calculate the value of the unknown mass using equation (1) and
the value of OD x 20gm using equation (2)and find its mean value.
7:Enter the unknown weight (mean value) of the object in the text
box provided to check your answer.
Observations:
Table1 for Stone

Observ
ation Forces Values of Sides(Cm) Resultant %
no. (R) error
P Q Θ Cos(Θ) OA OB OD
1 60 60 90 0 3 3 4.2 84.8 0.95
2 70 60 101 -0.225 3.5 3 4.2 83.04 1.14
3 70 80 112 -0.374 3.5 4 4.2 84.29 0.35
Table2 for Wood :
Observ
no. (R) error
1 60 60 90 0 3 3 4.3 84.8 1.39
2 70 60 100 -0.174 3.5 3 4.3 83.9 2.44
3 70 80 110 -0.342 3.5 4 4.3 86.4 0.46
Table3 for Steel :
Observ
no. (R) error
1 60 60 101 -0.19 3 3 4.1 77.05 6.03
2 70 60 103 -0.179 3.5 3 4.1 81.3 0.854
3 70 80 114 -0.407 3.5 4 4.1 82.125 0.15
Calculation:
1: For Stone
Weight of stone = 20 gm * 4.2 = 84 gm
(a) % error = ( original wt – calculated )/original * 100
= |84 – 84.8|/84 * 100 = 0.95 %
(b)% error = |84 – 83.04| / 84 *100 = 1.14 %
(c) % error = |84 -84.29| /84 *100 = 0.35 %
Mean % error for wood = 0.813%
2 : For Wood
weight of wood = 20gm * 4.3 = 86 gm
(a) % error = |86 – 84.8|/86 * 100 = 1.39%
(b) % error = |86 – 83.9 | / 86 *100 = 2.44%
(c) % error = |86 – 86.4| /86 *100 = 0.46%
Mean % error = 1.43%
2 : For Steel ball
weight of steel = 20gm * 4.1 = 82 gm
(a) % error = |82 – 77.05|/82 * 100 = 6.03%
(b) % error = |82 – 81.3 | / 82 *100 = 0.854%
(c) % error = |82 – 82.125| /82 *100 = 0.15%
Mean % error = 2.34%
Results:
(a) Weight and %error of stone = 84 and 0.813
(b) Weight and % error of wood = 86 and 1.43
(c) Weight and % error of steel ball = 82 and 2.34
The results shows the error is within the limits of experiment
error.
Precautions :
1: The pulleys should be friction less.
2: The hangers should not touch the board or. table.
3: Points should be marked when weights are at rest.
4:Parallax error should be avoided while taking the
readings.
5: Points should be marked with sharp Pencil.
6: Choose proper scale such that fairly big
parallelogram is formed

Gaurav Singh Parallelogram Law of Vectors

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Parallelogram Law of Vectors

Parellogram Law of vector explained

Table1 for Stone

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