RIGIDITY MODULUS

EXPT NO. TOTAL MARKS: 8

AIM: To Determine The Rigidity Modulus Of The Material Of A Wire By The Dynamic Method.

WORKING PRINCIPLE:

When a solid metallic cylinder is suspended by means of a wire (weight of the wire being negligible
compared to that of the body) and is allowed to make torsional oscillations about the axis of suspension,
then Rigidity Modulus of the wire is

G = 4MR2 L
a4 T02

where M mass of a solid metallic cylinder in kg.

R radius of the cylinder in cm.
a radius of cross-section of the wire in cm
L length of the wire in cm.
T0 time period of torsional oscillation of the cylinder in sec.

Plotting T02 along x-axis and L along y-axis we get a straight line passing through the origin.
L and T02 are taken from the graph.

In C.G.S system unit of G is dyne/cm2, in S.I. unit, G can be expressed in N/m2

APPARATUS USED:

A steel wire loaded with a cylinder at one end, which can perform torsional oscillations.
A meter scale.
A stop watch.
A screw gauge and a thread.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS:

Table 1 (a) Readings for the least count of the screw gauge (1)

Number of circular scale divisions

Value of one smallest linear scale division in cm
Pitch of the screw(p) in cm
Least count = p/n in cm
Instrumental Error in cm
(b): Readings for the radius of the Experimental wire by screw gauge

No. Main scale Circular Total Reading Mean Corrected Radius

of Reading scale T = M+(c x l.c) diameter diameter a = d/2
Obs (M) Reading cm (d) cm (d) (cm)
(cm) (c) in cm

Table 2(a): Readings for the vernier constant of the slide callipers

1 Main Scale Division =. cm

10 vernier scale division = 9 main scale division
1 = 9/10
1 vernier constant = 1 M.S.D 1 V.S.D
= (1 9/10) M.S.D
= 1/10 M.S.D
=. cm

(b) Determination of the radius of the cylinder (1)

No. Readings of the Diameter Mean Instrumental Corrected Radius(R)=b/2

of b Error (cm) b (cm) (cm)
obs. (cm)
Main Vernier Total
Scale Scale Reading(b)
m(cm) (v) (m+v.c.xv)
cm

Table 3 : Readings For The Length(L) Of The Wire And The Corresponding Time Period(t) (3)

No. Length(L) Of No. Of Time(t) For Time Period To2

Of The Oscillations n To = t/n (sec2)
Obs Wire (cm) (n) Oscillations (sec)
(sec)
1
 2
3
4
5

Graph: (1)

Table 4: Consolidated Results To Calculate Rigidity Modulus(G) From Graph (1)

From To2 vs Mass Of The Radius Of The Radius Of The Rigidity Modulus
L Graph Cylinder(supplied) Cylinder Experimental G = (4MR2
(kg) (R) From Wire L) /a4To2 in
L in To2 in Table 2b in cm From Table 1b Dyne/cm2 N/m2
Cm sec2 (cm)

SHOW CALCULATIONS: G = 4MR2 L N/m2

a4 T02

PERCENTAGE ERROR: ( Show Calculation) (1)

G R a L T R = vernier constant of slide calipers

2 4 2
G R a L T L=minimum division in the meter scale
a = least count of the screw gauge
T = minimum division in stop watch
G R, a, L, T are highest measured values.
Percentage Error =
G
100%

PRECAUTIONS:

1. In the expression for G, the radius of the wire appears in the fourth power. So, extreme care should
be taken while calculating a, as a small error in the determination of a will result in a large
deviation of the value of G.
2. Ensure that during oscillation of the cylinder, the axis of both the cylinder and the wire should be
the same so that the suspension axis passes through the C.G. of the body.
3. The suspended system should be twisted by small angles for torsional oscillations.

PROCEDURE

1. Measure the diameter of the wire by means of a screw gauge at three different places along the
entire length of the wire taking two readings at right angles at each place.
2. Twist the cylinder through an angle of about 60o and allow it to oscillate about the axis of
suspension.
3. Start a stopwatch and measure the time for 20 oscillations.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for different lengths of the wire.
5. Determine the circumference of the cylinder by means of a thread and a meter scale and hence
calculate its radius.
6. Plot a graph with L along y-axis and T o2 along x-axis. The graph will be a straight line passing
through the origin.
7. Calculate the value of G from the working formula.

NATURE OF GRAPH

To2 in sec2

(0,0) L in cm