A Decsription of Torque
Torques
Introduction During this lab you will become more familiar with the concepts of torque. The purpose of this lab is to determine if the rotational equilibrium condition, Στ = 0, holds experimentally. Equipment Meter stick (1) - no metal ends Fulcrum (1) Clamps (4) Weight Hanger (1) Mass Set (1) Digital Scale (1)
Theory For a body to be in static equilibrium, two conditions have to be met:
ΣF = 0 and Στ = 0 where F is force and τ is torque. (The torque is the force times the lever arm, r) The first condition, ΣF = 0, is concerned with translational equilibrium and ensures that the object is at rest or is moving at a uniform linear velocity. The second condition, Στ = 0, is concerned with rotational equilibrium and ensures that the object is not rotating or is rotating at a uniform angular velocity. Special Instructions Goals - One of the primary goals of this lab is accurate measurement with attention to detail and the use of the correct number of significant figures. I know that you can finish this lab quickly – but don’t. Squeeze as much precision as you can out of this set of equipment. Think up ways of avoiding errors and inaccuracies rather than explaining them away in the lab report. Units - In this lab you will find it convenient to use grams as the mass unit and centimeters as the distance measure. The nature of the torque balance equations allows us to take this short cut for convenience during this lab. Equipment Procedures Fulcrum Placement - Raise the fulcrum with a Lab Jack or by a textbook placed under it if the weight hangers are too long and touch the top surface of the lab table. Gram Weights - In the four (4) cases below the mass numbers called for are the amounts of mass to be placed on the weight hangers. When performing the calculations of the torque you will need to use the Total Mass for each. The TOTAL is the mass of the Clamp, the mass of the Weight Hanger and the added mass.
14a Torque A RGC.doc
-1-
Meter Stick Set
Introduction During this lab you will become more familiar with the concepts of torque. The purpose of this lab is to determine if the rotational equilibrium condition, Στ = 0, holds experimentally. Equipment Meter stick (1) - no metal ends Fulcrum (1) Clamps (4) Weight Hanger (1) Mass Set (1) Digital Scale (1)
Theory For a body to be in static equilibrium, two conditions have to be met:
ΣF = 0 and Στ = 0 where F is force and τ is torque. (The torque is the force times the lever arm, r) The first condition, ΣF = 0, is concerned with translational equilibrium and ensures that the object is at rest or is moving at a uniform linear velocity. The second condition, Στ = 0, is concerned with rotational equilibrium and ensures that the object is not rotating or is rotating at a uniform angular velocity. Special Instructions Goals - One of the primary goals of this lab is accurate measurement with attention to detail and the use of the correct number of significant figures. I know that you can finish this lab quickly – but don’t. Squeeze as much precision as you can out of this set of equipment. Think up ways of avoiding errors and inaccuracies rather than explaining them away in the lab report. Units - In this lab you will find it convenient to use grams as the mass unit and centimeters as the distance measure. The nature of the torque balance equations allows us to take this short cut for convenience during this lab. Equipment Procedures Fulcrum Placement - Raise the fulcrum with a Lab Jack or by a textbook placed under it if the weight hangers are too long and touch the top surface of the lab table. Gram Weights - In the four (4) cases below the mass numbers called for are the amounts of mass to be placed on the weight hangers. When performing the calculations of the torque you will need to use the Total Mass for each. The TOTAL is the mass of the Clamp, the mass of the Weight Hanger and the added mass.
14a Torque A RGC.doc
-1-
Meter Stick Set