Unit-III

III Gravitation and Elasticity KUD, BSc I SEM Physics (DSCC)

KARNATAK UNIVERSITY, DHARWAD

B.Sc. Semester – I

Subject: PHYSICS

DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC CORE COURSE (DSCC)

Course No.1 (Theory): Title of the Course (Theory): Mechanics and Properties of Matter

Elasticity
SESSION # TOPICS
36 Review of basic concepts of elasticity:
37 Relation between elastic constants (derivation) Poisson’s ratio in terms of elastic
constants (derivation)
38 Twisting couple on a solid cylinder (wire), work done in twisting solid cylinder
(wire).
39 Determination of coefficient of rigidity by torsional pendulum and Maxwell needle
method
40 Bending of beams neutral surface, neutral axis, plane of bending, bending
moment.
41 Expression for bending moment (derivation), uniform bending (mention formula)
42 Theory of light cantilever (derivation)

Session 39. Determination of coefficient of rigidity by torsional pendulum and Maxwell needle
method

39.1 Modulus of Rigidity of a wire using disc

Aim To determine rigidity modulus of a given wire by torsional pendulum.

Apparatus Torsional pendulum, given wire, stop watch, screw gauge, vernier calipers, meter scale,
physical balance.
Torsional pendulum consists of a uniform circular metal disc of diame
diameter
ter about 12cm and
thickness of 2cm suspended by a metal wire at the center of disc. The other end is gripped into
another chuck nut which is fixed to wall bracket.

1 Dr Manjunatha V, GFGC Kumta

 Unit-III
III Gravitation and Elasticity KUD, BSc I SEM Physics (DSCC)

Formula The rigidity modulus is given by,

𝜂= Nm-2
(39.1)
9.1)

Where, l = Length of the given wire between the two clamping screws (chuck
chuck nuts).
nuts
r = Radius of the wire.
R= radius of the disc
M= mass of the disc
T = Time period for the torsional oscillations of the disc.
Procedure

1. The length of experimental w wire is measured for about 50 cm using meter scale.
scale Two ends of
wire are tied to chuck nuts.. Attach the experimental wire to the chuck nuts such that the disc
system is in a horizontal plane as shown in the figure below.
2. Reference is marked on the disk. Small twist is given to the disc, when it comes to normal
oscillations, time t for 20 oscill
oscillations is noted down.. Calculate time period T = t mean/20
3. Measure the diameter of the experimental wire in mutually perpendicular directions by a screw
gauge and find the radius ‘r’ of the wire. Determine the diameter of the disc and
a find the radius R
by using vernier calipers.
4. The mass ‘M’ of the disc is m measured using physical balance.

Result The rigidity modulus, of the given material of the wire is found to be 𝜂 = Nm-2.

Diagram

Figure 10.1 Torsional

onal pendulum
Observation
Tabular column to determine l/T2

Sl. Length of the Time taken for 20 oscillations T=tmean/20 T2 l/T2 (ms-2)
No. wire l (cm) Trial 1 Trial 2 t mean (s2)
1
2
3
4
2 Dr Manjunatha V, GFGC Kumta
 Unit-III
III Gravitation and Elasticity KUD, BSc I SEM Physics (DSCC)

Radius of the disc using vernier calipers (R)

L.C. = cm.

MSR CVD Diameter = MSR+(CVD x LC)

Trial No.
(cm) (cm)
1
2
Radius = Diameter/2= cm.

Radius of the experimental wire using screw gauge (r)

L.C. = mm. Zero Error = mm.
Diameter
Trial PSR HSR Diameter TR= PSR+(HSR-ZE) x LC) r=
No. (mm) (mm) 2
(mm)
1
2

Calculation

4𝜋𝑀𝑅2 𝑙
𝜂= 𝑟4
Nm-2
𝑇2

39.2 Maxwell’s Needle (Dynamic

Dynamic method)
Aim: Determine the modulus of rigidity of the material of the given wire using Maxwell’s Needle.
Apparatus: Maxwell’s Needle, wire, fixed support with torsion head, lamp and scale arrangement,
stopwatch (stop clock), micrometer screw, balance, and meter rod.
Theory:: Maxwell’s needle consists of a hollow cylindrical tube in which two hollow and two solid
cylinders of the same diameter and equal length can be fitted. The needle is suspended from a
rigid support by the given wire. If T1 is the period of torsional oscillation in position 1 and T2 is
the period of torsional oscillation in position 2. C is the couple per unit twist of the experimental
wire, then
I1 I1
T1  2  T12  4 2 (1)
C C

I2 I2
T2  2  T22  4 2 (2)
C C

where I1 = M.I of in position 1, I2 = M.I of in position 2,

3 Dr Manjunatha V, GFGC Kumta

 Unit-III
III Gravitation and Elasticity KUD, BSc I SEM Physics (DSCC)

Equations (1) - (2) is

4 2
T12  T22  I1  I 2
C

 r4
C Where r is the radius of the experimental wire and l is the length of the
2l
experimental wire.

(m1  m2 ) L2
I1  I 2  where L is the length of the each cylinder, m1 is mass of either
4
solid cylinder, m2 = m mass of either hollow cylinder

4 2 (m1  m 2 ) L2 2 l (m1  m 2 ) L2
T12  T22  
  r 4  4  r4
 
 2l 

2 (m1  m2 ) L2 l

r 4 2

T1  T22 

Procedure :
1. Measure the length L of the needle
needle. Determine the mass of both solid cylinders m1 and that of
hollow cylinders m2 by a balance.
2. Measure the diameter of the wire accurately at several places with micrometer screw.
3. Arrange the lamp and scale at a suitable distance from the needle.
4. Find the time for 10 oscillations when the solid cylin
cylinders
ders are at the end and determine T1,
similarly calculate T2, (the needle should not vibrate up and down)
5. Measure length l of wire from point of suspension to the point where it is attached to the
needle.
6. Repeat the experiment with 2 more lengths of the wire.

Observations:
1. Length of Maxwell’s Needle ==L = ……………..cm = ……………m
2. Mass of each solid cylinder m1 = …………...gm = ……………kg
3. Mass of each hollow cylinder m2 = ……………gm = ……………kg
4. Mean radius of the wire = r =……..m

No. Length Time for 10 Time for 10

of of oscillations Period oscillations when Period l
obs Wire
l meter
when solid cylinders
are at ends (secs)
T1
(secs)
solid cylinders are at
the centre (secs)
T2
(secs))

T  T22
1
2

I II III Mean I II III Mean
1
2
4 Dr Manjunatha V, GFGC Kumta
 Unit-III
III Gravitation and Elasticity KUD, BSc I SEM Physics (DSCC)

Mean =
2 (m1  m2 ) L2 l
Calculations: Modulus of rigidity 
r 4
T1  T22
2


5 Dr Manjunatha V, GFGC Kumta