LAB SESSION NO.

2
Objective:-
Study and use of Planimeter.

Apparatus:-
 Planimeter
 Graph paper
 Pencil
 Scale
 Compass

Theory:-

Description
Planimeter is a mechanical integrator to measure irregular plan
areas. Its major application in the thermodynamics lab is to find
area of actual PV diagram of the heat engines. The following are
the parts of a planimeter:
 Tracing Arm
Tracing arm is an arm which manages the position of tracing
point at one end with the help of hinge.

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  Tracing Point
Tracing point is the movable needle point which is connected to
tracing arm. This point is moved over the outline of area to be
measured.
 Anchor Arm
Anchor arm is used to manage the anchor position or needle
point position on the plan. It’s one end is connected to weight
and needle point and another end to the integrating unit.
 Weight and Needle Point
It is also called as anchor. A fine needle point is located at the
base of heavy block. This needle point is anchored at required
station on the plan.
 Clamp
Clamp is used to fix the tracing arm in standard length without
any extension.
 Hinge
The tracing arm and anchor arm are connected by hinge to the
integrating unit. With the help of this hinge the arms can rotate
about their axes.
 Tangent Screw
Tangent screw is used to extend the tracing arm up to required
length.
 Index

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Index is a location where all the measuring arrangements like
wheel, dial are located.
 Wheel
Wheel is fixed in the integrating unit which helps to measure the
tracing length. It is used to set zero on the scale.
 Dial
Dial is nothing but scale which is to be set zero at the initial
level using setting wheel.
 Vernier
Vernier is attached to the wheel as rounded drum with
graduations on it. It is divided into 100 parts.

To check the accuracy of polar planimeter

First verify the accuracy of the polar planimeter by
reading on it the areas of at least three mathematically
regular figures i.e. determinable figures drawn actually to
full scale such as circles, squares, rectangles and triangles
etc.

Planimeter method:

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A polar planimeter is an instrument used to measure the
area of a plotted figure by tracing its perimeter. The
planimeter, as shown touches the paper at three points:
 The anchor point P
 The tracing point T
 The roller R
To measure an area, set the anchor point of the adjusted
planimeter at a convenient position outside the plotted
area. Place the tracing point on a selected point on the
perimeter of the cross section. Take an initial reading
from the disc, drum and Vernier. Continue by tracing the
perimeter clockwise, keeping the tracing point carefully
on the lines being followed. When the tracing point closes
on the initial point, take a reading again from the disc,
drum and Vernier. The difference between the initial
reading and the final reading gives a value proportional to
the area being measured.
To measure plotted areas larger than the capacity of the
planimeter, divide the area into sections and measure each
section separately, then add all in order to find the
accumulative area.

Maximum and Minimum readings on the disc, drum

and Vernier

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Disc: On disc, the following are extreme values that are
possible in measurement
Maximum reading = 100 in2
Minimum reading = 10 in2
Drum: On drum, the following are extreme values that are
possible in measurement
Maximum reading = 10 in2
Minimum reading = 0.1 in2
Vernier: The minimum reading on the Vernier is further
divided into ten divisions on the Vernier scale, therefore the
least count Vernier will be
L.C. = 0.1/10 = 0.01 in2

Therefore,
Total reading = (Disc reading) + (Drum reading) +
(Vernier reading)

Observations and Calculations:

No Shape Area (m2) Actual Area %age
of of the measured (m2) Error
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Obs Figure by the By By (AP- (AP-
. planimete formul countin AF) AC)
r a g box %ag %ag
e e
1. Square 3.7 4 4 7.5% 7.5%
2. Triangle 1.87 2 2 5.1% 5.1%
3. Rectangl 6.42 6 6 6.5% 6.5%
e
4. Circle 3.3 3,14 3.14 7% 7%
Mean %age Error = 6.5%

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 Graph b/w AP and AF
7

6
AP (By Planimeter)

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

AF (By Formula)

Graphs:

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 Graph b/w AP and AC
7

6
AP (By Planimeter)

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

AC (By Counting Boxes)

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