Introductory Experiment Y

Young’s Modulus

Aims:
1. To measure the Young’s Modulus of a metal bar.
Objectives:
1. To become familiar with the use of standard lab measurement equipment;
2. To learn how to treat random experimental errors quantitatively;
3. To learn how to combine errors to give an estimate of a value determined by experiment.

Further reading:
• B. L. Worsnop & H. T. Flint, Advanced Practical Physics For Students (Methuen & Co. 1942).
• P.A. Tipler & G. Mosca, Physics for Scientists and Engineers 6th Edn. (W.H. Freeman and
Company, New York, 2004). Chapter 12.

Rectangular
cross-section x
bar
mg
Knife-edge
supports
L

w
d

Figure Y.1: Top – The apparatus used to measure the Young’s modulus of a rectangular cross-section bar.
Bottom – A larger image of the end of the bar to indicate the dimensions.

59
60 INTRODUCTORY EXPERIMENT Y. YOUNG’S MODULUS

Introduction moving the microscope away from and back to the fo-
cus point, measure the initial height several times. Use
This is a short introductory experiment designed to in- these readings to find the mean initial position and the
troduce you to the use of micrometers, Vernier calipers uncertainty in this value. The standard deviation can
and Vernier microscopes as measuring devices, and pro- be considered to be the error associated with a single
vide practice with the error propagation techniques and measurement using the microscope.
Origin software you were introduced to in the lab lec- Next, add various masses to the centre of the bar and
tures. measure the corresponding change in height, x. Con-
The DLM contains interactive resources to teach you sider whether repeat readings are required and note
how to read Vernier scales, and notes to assist you with your reasoning in your lab book.
the Origin software. Before removing the bar from the supports, measure
L with a ruler. Then measure the width of the bar, w,
with the callipers provided, and the depth of the bar, d,
The Experiment with the micrometers provided. Note the uncertainties
in each of these measurements.
An elastic modulus is a measure of the stiffness of a
It is important throughout this experiment that you
material. There are various different types of moduli,
consider carefully how the uncertainties in your mea-
but one of the simplest is the Young’s modulus. It
surements contribute to your final result.
describes the relationship between linear strain (exten-
sion per unit length in a particular direction) and stress
(force per unit area, acting in the same direction) in the
region where Hooke’s law is valid.
Analysis
In this experiment the bending of a bar will be stud- Plot a suitable graph in Origin to determine the
ied as a function of the force applied. A horizontal bar Young’s modulus of the bar.
supported at both ends will bend when a mass is ap-
Calculate the Young’s modulus of the bar and use
plied to its centre. One side of the bar will stretch, the
the partial differential method to find the error in this
opposite side will be compressed, and a line down the
value.
centre of the bar will experience no change in length.
Can you identify the material the bar is made from?
Discuss your results.
Theory
When a mass, m, is applied to the centre of a horizon-
tal bar, as shown in Figure Y.1, the bar bends. The
depression, x, depends on the Young’s modulus, E, of
the material. For a rectangular bar with length L (sup-
ported at its edges), width w and depth d, the following
relationship holds:

mgL3
x= (Y.1)
4wd3 E

Here, g refers to the acceleration due to gravity. Note

that this relationship applies to small amounts of bend-
ing only - adding large masses will make the bar per-
manently deform or break.
In this experiment you will find the Young’s modulus
of a metal bar by measuring the depression caused by
the addition of various masses.

Method
Set up the equipment as shown in Figure Y.1. You
will need to make sure the bar cannot slip from the
knife edges, and centre the bar symmetrically on the
supports.
Centre the cross-hairs of the microscope on the cen-
tre of the bar to measure its initial height. Consider
how to measure the same point each time. Measure
the initial height of the bar with the microscope. By