SPEED MEASUREMENT

ABSTRACT

This experiment is about measuring the angular speed of a rotating object

mathematically and experimentally. And to learn how to operate the instruments that are
used to measure it. There are two (2) apparatuses that would be used in this experiment.
And they are called tachometer and stroboscope. The experiment is quite simple. It is
about measuring the angular speed of a rotating object by the use of a tachometer and
stroboscope. On this experiment, the pulley of the spindle of a mini milling machine acts
as the rotating object, which is run by a DC motor. The stroboscope and the tachometer
are used in measuring the angular speed of that rotating object. After measuring the
values and performing the calculations, the results are quite close. There is a slight
difference between the true value and the approximated value. The discrepancy between
the true value and the experimental value is because of the losses which is exerted by the
DC motor.

INTRODUCTION

In determining how fast/slow an object moves, the speed/velocity is measured. In

classical physics, speed/velocity is defined as the rate of change in displacement of an
object per unit time. Speed and velocity differ by a single factor. Speed is defined as the
rate of change in displacement of an object per unit time but the direction where the
object would go is not considered. On the other hand, velocity is the rate of change in
displacement of an object per unit time but the direction where the object would go
matters. In other words, speed is scalar while velocity is a vector quantity.

That concept, which is in rectilinear motion, also applies in angular dynamics. The rate
of change in angular displacement per unit time of an object is called angular
velocity/speed. In simple words, angular velocity/speed determines how fast an object
rotates in its own axis. Both rectilinear and angular dynamics play a very significant role
in science and engineering. For example, the rotation of planet earth on its own axis, how
fast a car moves, how fast its rolling components rotates (gears, shafts, wheels, etc. ) and
many more. So, in order to determine how fast those objects rotate, scientists develop
such devices that could measure angular speed. And those objects are called tachometer
and stroboscope. A tachometer and a stroboscope are separate devices but on this
experiment, a combined tachometer and stroboscope would be used in order to
determine the angular speed. A brief discussion on how those objects work would be
provided as a supplementary information.
OBJECTIVES

The goal of this experiment is to sharpen and improve the intellectual and motor skills
of an individual by: measuring the angular speed of a rotating object by the use of a
laboratory instrument such as tachometer, and compare the measured value to the
indicated (true) value. Also, the experiment aims to determine the relationship between
the angular speed and the diameter of a rotating body if they are directly proportional to
each other or not.

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS:

1. Vernier Caliper
2. Tachometer/stroboscope
3. Milling machine

PROCEDURE:

1. Measure the outside and inside diameter of the pulley of the motor and spindle.
After that, calculate the pitch diameter by the calculating the average value of
the inside and outside diameter.
2. Record the indicated speed of the motor.
3. Measure the angular speed of the motor and spindle by using the tachometer in
contact mode by sticking it into the tip of the rotating disk.
4. Measure the angular speed of the motor and spindle by using the stroboscope in
non-contact mode by flashing the stroboscope into the rotating disk.
5. Repeat procedures 1-4 but this time, transfer the timing belt of the motor into
the smaller diameters of the spindle. Record the results.

RESULTS

Here are the results of the experiment. Numerous trials were conducted on each
method (contact and non-contact)
 CONTACT PULLEY 1 PULLEY 2
Pitch Diameter 1 (cm) 155.8 90.125
Angular Speed
1775 2886
(tachometer) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated) 1720 2893
Pitch Diameter 2 (cm) 118 128
Angular Speed
1783 1592
(tachometer) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated) 1720 1586
Pitch Diameter 3 (cm) 89 156
Angular Speed
1796 1004
(tachometer) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated)
1720 980
(rpm)
Pitch Diameter 4 (cm) 45 188
Angular Speed
1784 492
(tachometer) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated)
1720 420
(rpm)

NON-CONTACT PULLEY 1 PULLEY 2

Pitch Diameter 1 (cm) 155.8 90.125
Angular Speed
1771 2884
(stroboscope) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated) 1720 2880
Pitch Diameter 2 (cm) 118 128
Angular Speed
1782 1593
(stroboscope) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated) 1720 1590
Pitch Diameter 3 (cm) 89 156
Angular Speed
1790 1000
(stroboscope) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated)
1720 990
(rpm)
Pitch Diameter 4 (cm) 45 188
Angular Speed
1789 490
(stroboscope) (rpm)
Angular Speed (indicated)
1720 480
(rpm)
DISCUSSIONS

On this experiment, numerous trials were done on determining the angular speed of
the rotating pulley of the motor and spindle.

The set-up of the experiment is this:

The equipment that would be studied on this experiment is a mini milling machine. A
milling machine is a mechanical device that is used in milling operations. It is also used in
boring or drilling holes in a steel. A drill bit is attached on the tip of the machine. On the
top of the machine, the speed of rotation of the drill bit can be manipulated by adjusting
the timing belt that connects the pulleys. It plays a significant part on its rotation.

The sizes of pulleys of the motor and spindle are assembled on that way. The pulleys
of the farther part is driven by a DC motor, which rotates on a constant speed (1720 rpm).
On the other side, it drives the drill bit. The pulleys are connected by a timing belt. While
performing the experiment, it was found out that if the timing belt is attached on a pulley
which has a large diameter, its counterpart on the other side would rotate quickly.
Because the relationship between the diameter and the angular speed of an object is
inversely-proportional to each other. The larger the diameter, the slower it would rotate.
The lower the diameter, it would rotate quickly. Since the timing belt is attached to a
motor-driven pulley that rotates on a constant speed which has a large diameter, its
counterpart on the other side would rotate faster. The opposite would happen if the
timing belt is attached on the motor-driven pulley which has smaller diameter.

Based on the results, the calculated values of the actual and theoretical value of the
angular speeds of the motor and spindle are close to each other. But still, there are errors
that contributed to the discrepancy of the values, because the machine is operated by a
DC motor, which is subjected in different losses, such as iron losses, copper losses, and
windage losses. Those are the factors that contributed to the error of measuring the
angular speed of the pulleys.

CONCLUSIONS

After doing the experiment, it was concluded that speed of the object is inversely-
proportional to the diameter of a rotating object. The larger the diameter, the slower the
object would rotate and it requires more power in order for it to increase its speed. The
larger the diameter, the larger the circumference would be. Larger circumference means
the path of a particle that is in the object would be longer and it would take longer time
for that object to complete one revolution. However, the values which are determined by
the tachometer and stroboscope are quite different form each other. Windage losses is
the main reason why there is a discrepancy between the values.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The tachometer-stroboscope is a velocity analyzing and measuring device that is

commonly used for rotational machine inspection. The stroboscope has the ability of
flashing the light in a synchronous frequency to the operating machinery. Thus, the
illusion of viewing of stopped or slowed images is created. Utilizing the phenomenon of
slowing or stopping the motion with the adjusted rate of the equipment’s flashing light,
machine parts and processes may be inspected for defects. Plus, the rotational speed of
the machinery and systems may be recorded for further performance analysis. Typical
applications for using this equipment is to inspect shafts, rotors, meshing gears, vibration
diagnostic equipment, textile equipment, printing production lines, power tools, speaker
acoustical analysis, fan balancing and many more.

REFERENCES

1. "ST-1000 Stroboscope-Tachometer." NIDECSHIMPO. N.p., n.d. Web. 16

Feb. 2015.
2. Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, A. Lewis Ford, and Francis Weston
Sears. Sears and Zemansky's University Physics: With Modern Physics. San
Francisco: Pearson Addison Wesley, 2004. Print.