KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
(KNUST)

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

FACULTY OF PHYSICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF YOUNG’S MODULUS OF

SOME WOOD SPECIES

LARTEY WISDOM

4659418

BSC. PHYSICS

18TH DECEMBER, 2018

 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page number

Abstract 2
Introduction 3
Diagram of Setup 4
Method/Procedure 5
Observation Table (Data) 6
Graphs of observation tables 7 – 10
Theory and Calculations 11 – 13
Results and Discussions 14
Error Analysis 15
Precautions 16
Conclusion 17
References 18

1
 ABSTRACT

The experiment was performed to determine the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) of

different species of wood. Four species of different woods were used for the experiment. A loaded

beam was clamped firmly to the end of a bench. Each wood was displaced at a reasonable angle and

the oscillations were measured. The values obtained as Young’s modulus of the four wooden

species with respect to the graphs were 1.85 x 109 Pa ± 0.01, 1.45 x 1010 Pa ± 0.01, 2.09 x

109 Pa ± 0.01, 8.20 x 109 Pa ± 0.01 respectively. The young modulus depends on the rate of

vibration. The results show that modulus of elasticity is high for higher vibrations. Hence the

Young’s modulus of various wood species has been determined with the help of a G-clamp.

2
 INTRODUCTION

Elasticity is a property of material, which is investigated to be a reversible deformation under

applied load. This reversible or elastic deformation is through stretching of inter-atomic bonds and

therefore, there is an associated volume change with this type of deformation. Every material resists

its deformation by the load applied onto it. In elastic deformation regime, this resistance is

measured by modulus of elasticity. Thus modulus of elasticity is a measure of resistance of a

material against reversible or elastic deformation. Depending on the mode of loading - tensile, shear

etc. There are different moduli of elasticity like Young’s modulus of elasticity. Young’s modulus of

elasticity is a very important property of a material. This is a measure of stiffness of the material

against tensile loading and parameter for structural materials. Its value depends on the nature of

inter-atomic bonding and is insensitive to the microstructure of the

material. Ceramics have very high value of Young’s modulus of elasticity followed by metals and

therefore, deflect very less under applied load while wood and polymers have small value of

Young's modulus of elasticity and accordingly deflect more under applied load as compared to

metals and ceramics under identical loading condition.

3
DIAGRAM OF SETUP IN DETERMINING THE YOUNG MODULUS OF WOOD SPECIES

4
 METHOD/PROCEDURE

Apparatus needed includes;

1. G-clamp
2. Table/bench
3. Wood samples
4. A known mass
5. Stop-clock
6. Vernier callipers
7. Metre rule.

A loaded beam of mass 50 g attached to the end of the beam was clamped firmly to the edge of the
bench by the G-clamp with a definite length projecting from it. The load was affixed to the beam
such that it will cause but a small depression. The width and thickness of the beam were measured.
The weight W(mg) of the attached mass was determined. The loaded beam was caused to depress
and the period T for 20 oscillations was recorded.
𝑙
The experiment was repeated at three other positions on the beam such that 𝐼 ≤ 3. A graph of T2 as

a function of L3 was plotted and the Young’s modulus 𝐸 of the wood was determined. The
procedures above were repeated on other samples of the same species and the average value of the
Young’s modulus was calculated. The procedures above were repeated for the other species of
wood.

5
OBSERVATION TABLE

Table of values for specie A

Length t1 /s t2 /s Mean(t) 𝑙
T/s T2/s2 L3/cm3 L3/m3 𝐼≤
(l)/cm /s 3
90 9.82 10.19 10.01 0.50 0.25 27000 0.27 30.00
70 7.88 7.99 7.94 0.40 0.16 12698 0.13 23.33
50 6.19 5.95 6.01 0.30 0.09 4632 0.05 16.67

Table of values for specie B

Length t1 /s t2 /s Mean(t) 𝑙
T/s T2/s2 L3/cm3 L3/m3 𝐼≤
(l)/cm /s 3
90 12.07 12.14 12.11 0.61 0.37 27000 0.27 30.00
70 8.87 8.54 8.71 0.44 0.19 12698 0.13 23.33
50 6.10 6.26 6.18 0.31 0.10 4632 0.05 16.67

Table of values for specie C

Length t1 /s t2 /s Mean(t) 𝑙
T/s T2/s2 L3/cm3 L3/m3 𝐼≤
(l)/cm /s 3
90 7.63 7.79 7.71 0.39 0.15 27000 0.27 30.00
70 6.18 6.07 6.13 0.31 0.09 12698 0.13 23.33
50 5.09 5.25 5.17 0.26 0.07 4632 0.05 16.67

Table of values for specie D

Length t1 /s t2 /s Mean(t) 𝑙
T/s T2/s2 L3/cm3 L3/m3 𝐼≤
(l)/cm /s 3
90 5.63 5.26 5.45 0.27 0.07 27000 0.27 30.00
70 5.38 5.31 5.35 0.26 0.07 12698 0.13 23.33
50 4.98 4.33 4.66 0.23 0.05 4632 0.05 16.67

6
GRAPHS OF OBSERVATION TABLES FOR WOOD SPECIES

A graph of T2 against l3 for wood specie A

0.3

0.25

0.2
T2/s2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
l3/m3

7
 A graph of T2 against l3 for wood specie B
0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25
T2/s2

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
l3/m3
8
 A graph of T2 against l3 for wood specie C
0.16

0.14

0.12

0.1
T2/s2

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
l3/m3

9
 A graph of T2 against l3 for wood specie D
0.08

0.07

0.06

0.05
T2/s2

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
l3/m3

10
THEORY AND CALCULATIONS
The depression(s) due to the load at W(=mg) at the end of the cantilever of length l is

Wl3
s=
3IE
stress
where E = = Young ′ s Modulus
strain

bd3
and I = is called the moment of inertia.
12

This strain brings into play internal stresses which produce a restoring force equal to W, i.e.
equal to
3IEs
W= 3
l

The vertical oscillation produces an acceleration, so that from the Newton’s second law;
F = ma (Restoring force)

3IE
ma = mṩ = − .s
l3
so that the equation of motion becomes
3IE
ṩ+ .s = 0
ml3
demonstrating that the motion is simple harmonic with

3IE
ω2 =
ml3
2π 2 3IE
Or ( ) =
T ml3

Therefore, the period T of the simple harmonic motion is

ml3
T = 2π√
3IE

2
and hence, gradient (g) which is equal to T ⁄
L3 is given by
4π2 m
gradient =
3IE

And Young modulus E, of wood species is given as

4π2 m
E=
3Ig

11
 ∆T2
Slope of graph of specie A =
∆l3
0.25 − 0.09
= = 0.727 s 2 /m3
0.27 − 0.05

∆T2
Slope of graph of specie B =
∆l3
0.07 − 0.05
= = 0.091 s 2 /m3
0.27 − 0.05

∆T2
Slope of graph of specie C =
∆l3
0.15 − 0.07
= = 0.364 s 2 /m3
0.27 − 0.05

∆T2
Slope of graph of specie D =
∆l3
0.07 − 0.05
= = 0.091 s 2 /m3
0.27 − 0.05

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie A = I=
12
0.047 x 0.0053
= = 4.89 x 10−10 kg/m2
12

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie B = I=
12
0.048 x 0.0053
= = 5.0 x 10−10 kg/m2
12

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie C = I=
12
0.048 x 0.0063
= = 8.64 x 10−10 kg/m2
12

bd3
Moment of inertia (I) of specie D = I=
12
0.049 x 0.0063
= = 8.82 x 10−10 kg/m2
12

Therefore;

Young modulus; E of specie A =

4π2 m 4(3.1422 ) x 0.05

E= =
3Ig 3(4.89 x 10−10 )(0.727)

= 1.85 x 109 Pa ± 0.01

12
Young modulus; E of specie B =

4π2 m 4(3.1422 ) x 0.05

E= =
3Ig 3(5.0 x 10−10 )(0.091)

= 1.45 x 1010 Pa ± 0.01

Young modulus; E of specie C =

4π2 m 4(3.1422 ) x 0.05

E= =
3Ig 3(8.64 x 10−10 )(0.364)

= 2.09 x 109 Pa ± 0.01

Young modulus; E of specie D =

4π2 m 4(3.1422 ) x 0.05

E= =
3Ig 3(8.82 x 10−10 )(0.091)

= 8.20 x 109 Pa ± 0.01

13
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The values obtained after the experiment as a value for the young modulus with respect to

the four different wood species as in table one(1) to four(4) were 1.85 x 109 Pa ± 0.01, 1.45 x

1010 Pa ± 0.01, 2.09 x 109 Pa ± 0.01, 8.20 x 109 Pa ± 0.01 respectively. The value of young’s

modulus, E in each wooden species depends entirely on the width and thickness of the various

wooden species but mostly affected with the width. A decrease in the width in each of the various

wooden species yields to an increase in the young’s modulus in each of the wooden species.

14
 ERROR ANALYSIS
4π2 m
E=
3Ig
4π2 m
⇒ log E = log
3Ig

log 4π2 +log m

⇒ log E =
3 log I+log g

⇒ log E = log 4π2 + log m − 3 log I − log g

⇒ log E = log m − 3 log I − log g

δE δm δI δg
⇒ = −3 −
E m I g

δm δI δg
⇒ δE = ( −3 − )
m I g

0.001 0.01 x 10−10 0.001

⇒ δE = ( −3 −10 − ) where 6.68x10-10 is mean of I values.
0.05 6.68 x 10 0.318

⇒ δ E = - 0.0124

Therefore,

δ E = ± 0.01

The error found in this experiment was associated with the time during the performance of the
experiment in each case (four different wood species).

15
 PRECAUTIONS

1. The stop clock was reset to zero mark before taking vibrational timings to ensure near
accuracy in time periods.

2. Windows were closed to prevent blowing winds from affecting or disturbing oscillating of
beam.

3. The clamp was tightly fixed to prevent wood from removing or falling off from the bench.

16
 CONCLUSION

The objectives of the experiment thus determining the young’s modules of different species of

wood was successful. Experimental values obtained are thus reliable and hence, procedures are

recommended for other similar experimentations.

17
 REFERENCES:

1. David W. Green, Jerrold E. Winandy, and David E. Kretschmann. Mechanical Properties of

Wood. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch04.pdf

2. Encyclopedia Britannica © 2008 Ultimate Reference Suite.

3. Giancoli, D.C. (2009). Physics for Scientist and engineers. Pearson education Inc.

4. Hudh D.Y. and Freedman A.R. (2004) Sears and Zemansky’s University of Physics with
Modern Physics 11th ed. U.S.A: Pearson Education, Inc. publishing.

5. Reginald, M. N., David W. S., Smith and Van-Dyke, S. A (2018) Laboratory manual in
Experimental Physics I, Department of Physics K. N. U. S. T, pp. 5 – 6.

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