Experiment No: 01

Measuring the diameter of a wire by using screw gauge

Objectives: To study the screw gauge principle and to learn the use of screw gauge to measure diameter of a
given wire.
Apparatus:
Screw gauge and a wire whose diameter has to be found.

Theory:
Careful quantitative measurements are very important for development of physics, the most exact of the
Micrometer screw-gauge is another instrument used for measuring accurately the diameter of a pen
It consists of a U-shaped frame fitted with a screwed spindle which is attached to a thimble. The screw has a
known pitch such as 1 mm. Pitch of the screw is the distance moved by the spindle per revolution. Hence in this
case, for one revolution of the screw the spindle moves forward or backward 1 mm. This movement of the
spindle is shown on an engraved linear millimeter scale on the sleeve. On the thimble there is a circular scale
which is divided into 50 or 100 equal parts.
When the anvil and spindle end are brought in contact, the edge of the circular scale should be at the zero of the
sleeve (linear scale) and the zero of the circular scale should be opposite to the datum line of the sleeve. If the
zero is not coinciding with the datum line, there will be a positive or negative zero error. While taking a
reading, the thimble is turned until the wire is held firmly between the anvil and the spindle.

Figure 2.1: The micrometer screw gauge

How to use a Screw Gauge

The first significant figure is taken from the last graduation showing on the sleeve directly to the left of the
revolving thimble. Note that an additional half scale division (0.5 mm) must be included if the mark below the
main scale is visible between the thimble and the main scale division on the sleeve. The remaining two
significant figures (hundredths of a millimetre) are taken directly from the thimble opposite the main scale.

Figure 2.2 The reading is 7.38 mm.

In figure 2.2 the last graduation visible to the left of the thimble is 7 mm and the thimble lines up with the main
scale at 38 hundredths of a millimetre (0.38 mm); therefore the reading is 7.38 mm.
Determination of Least Count of the Screw Gauge
1L.S.D. = 1mm
Number of full rotations given to screw = 4
Distance moved by the screw = 4 mm
Hence, pitch = 4mm 4 =1mm
Number of divisions on circular scale = 100
Hence, least count = 1mm100 = 0.01 mm = 0.001 cm.

PROCEDURE:
1. Find the value of one linear scale division (L.S.D).
2. Determine and record the pitch and least count of the screw gauge.
3. To find the zero error, bring the plane face B and A near. Repeat and record this for three times.
Record zero error as nil if there is no error.
4. Move face B away from face A. using a ratchet head R, move the face A towards face B lengthwise
and stop when R turns without moving the screw.
5. Linear scale reading (L.S.R) is recorded by noting down the no.of visible and uncovered divisions of
linear scale.
6. Let n be the no.of divisions of the circular scale lying on the reference line.
7. To measure diameter in a perpendicular direction, repeat steps 5 and 6 by rotating the wire to 90°.
8. For the entire length of wire, repeat steps 4,5,6 and 7 for five different positions and record the
observations.
9. Find the total reading and also zero correction.
10. Take the mean of different values of diameter.
11. Using a half-meter scale, measure the length of the wire. Repeat this step three times and record the
readings.

Fig. 2.2. Measuring the diameter of a wire suing screw gauges

Lab Tasks:

1. Take a wire and find out its volume using the following formula and note the readings in the
observation table 2.1 given below.

Observations and calculations:

Table 2.1. Observations and reading from screw gauge

SL Linear scale Circular Least Value of Diameter Mean
reading x mm scale count circular scale D=X+Y diameter
division n mm reading
Y=n×L.C
mm mm
1
2
3
4
5
Result and Conclusion:
The volume of the given wire is ……..cm3.

We have successfully measure the volume of a wire using screw gauge.

Precautions

There shouldn’t be any friction while moving the screw.

The screw should always be rotated by ratchet R and not by cap K to avoid undue pressure.
For zero correction proper sing should be noted.
To avoid back-lash error in the screw, the screw should be moved in the same direction.
The diameter of the wire should be measured at each place in two perpendicular directions and mean should be
taken.
Along the entire length of the wire, readings should be taken at five different places.
Avoid errors because of parallax.

Sources Of Error

There might be friction in the screw.

There might be a back-lash error in the screw gauge.
Circular scale divisions may not be equally divided.
There might not be uniformity in the wire.