Experiment no 6

Rolling Disc on Inclined Plane

Objective
To study the acceleration of rolling disc on inclined plane

Apparatus
Rolling disc experiment apparatus

Fig (6.1) Goniometer

Background
This work was probably done around 1604, but not fully written up until later when Galileo
was under house arrest. Falling motion happens too fast to measure. Galileo came up with
the clever idea that rolling down an inclined plane is analogous to falling, just slowed down
such that the motion can be easily measured.

He found that the distance traveled “d” was proportional to the square of the time “t”,
1
d= at2
2

Where “a” is the acceleration of the system. For falling motion Galileo found that all bodies
fell with the same acceleration, which we give the symbol “g” for gravity,

𝑚 𝑓𝑡
g = 9.8 = 32.2
𝑠2 𝑠2

He reasoned by geometry that the acceleration “a” of an inclined plane would be related to its
angle of incline “𝜃 “,
𝑎 = g sin 𝜃
 Such that as the inclined plane is brought vertical (𝜃 = 90)the motion approaches free fall.
More important, by taking a series of measurements at different small angles, where the
motion is slow enough to measure, it is possible to extrapolate a good value for “g”.
There is a complication that Galileo did not consider. Rolling bodies accelerate slower than
Bodies that slide down an inclined plane (without friction of course). As the object goes
down the inclined plane, there is a drop in gravitational energy, which is converted into
kinetic energy.
For a sliding object, all of this energy goes into its linear motion. For a rolling body, the
energy
is shared with its rotation. We won’t discuss rotational motion for several weeks, so we’ll just
state that equation (3) must be modified,

(1+ f ) 𝑎 = g sin 𝜃
Where f=1 for a hollow cylinder, f=0.5 for a solid cylinder, f=2/5 for a solid ball and f=2/3
for a hollow ball. For a hollow cylinder of outer radius “R” and inner radius “r” it’s more
complicated:
1 𝑟2
f = ( 1+ )
2 𝑅

Specifications
i. Investigation of inertia in rotational motion.
ii. Proof of the law of falling bodies.

iii. Experimentally determine the mass moments of inertia.

iv. Rolling experiments on an inclined plane with height adjustment and three-point support.
v. Pendulum experiments with a physical pendulum.

vi. Goniometer and spirit levels ensure precise alignment.

vii. Measure the time and the acceleration distance.

Technical Data:
i. Roll track
Length: max.1000mm.

Angle of inclination: 0°…7°.

ii. Disks
Mass: 320g and 620g.

Diameter: 70mm and 100mm.

iii. Rotary axis:

Diameter:10mm.
 Distance to center of gravity: 10mm.

iv. LxWxH
1180x480x210mm.
v. Weight
approx. 10kg.

Procedure
i. Firstly, check all the apparatus that either it is complete and in its true condition or not.
ii. Note down all the initial data and measurements before starting experiment.
iii. Then set the angle of inclined plane on 10.
iv. Kept the disk at 0mm and started the stop watch then allow it to move freely.
v. Note down the time for small disc to cover the distance of 1000mm.
vi. Repeated the same procedure for large disc and note down its time
vii. Repeated al the procedure by changing angle 10 each time to note down time for both
discs up to angle of 70.
viii. Write all the obtained values in table.

Fig (6.2) Goniometer

Observation and Results

Angle Acceleration Calculated Measured Deviation

(degree) (m/s2 ) time (sec) time (sec) (%)
𝒂𝒍𝒈 𝒂𝒔𝒎 𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒈 𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒔𝒎 𝒕𝒎𝒍𝒂 𝒕𝒎𝒔𝒎 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒍𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒔𝒎

1o

2o

3o

4o

5o

6o

7o