Experiment 8 83

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics 105 & 125

Torque of Parallel and Non-parallel Forces

Objectives
The objective of this experiment is to study the equilibrium conditions of rigid body
and to analyze the torque produced by both parallel and non-parallel forces on a
beam balance (lever).

Equipments
• Introductory mechanics system with experimental board, balance arm and pro-
tractor assembly.

• Pulley, mounted spring scale, mass and hanger Set.

Theory
We have seen earlier in experiment (6) th condition that needs to be satisfied in order
to get static equilibrium of forces for a point mass. This condition is:

ΣFxi = 0 , ΣFyi = 0 (1)

for an extended rigid body this condition remains valid if we apply it to the center of
gravity. If the rigid body is free to rotate however, there is an additional condition
that needs to be satisfied for equilibrium that is:

Στi = 0 (2)

Where τi is the torque produced by force Fi about the rotating point of the rigid
body and hence it can be identified as a ”turning agent”. Figure 1 shows a force F
Experiment 8 84

acting on a beam that is free to rotate about an axis. The force is applied at point

P, whose position is defined by the vector d.

Figure 1. Torque of force F about a rotating point.


The angle θ is the angle the force F makes with the direction of the arm vector d.
The torque τ is defined as:

τ = d × F
 with magnitude τ = d f sin(θ) (3)

In this experiment the rotating point is the pivot. If the sum of all torques is equal
to zero then the lever remains in equilibrium. If the net torque is not equal to zero
then the beam starts to rotate.

Procedures
Parallel forces

1) For balancing the beam, setup the equipment as shown in Figure 2. Loosen
the thumbscrew on the base and adjust the beam so that the zero mark on
the beam is aligned with the indicator marks on the pivot. When the beam is
level, the bubble in the bubble level will be midway between the two lines on
the level.
Experiment 8 85

Figure 2. Experimental setup for torque of parallel forces.

2) Find the mass of the two protractor used by the triple balance or the digital
balance and record their masses. Loosen the thumbscrew on the two protrac-
tors and slide one onto each end of the beam. Tie a mass hanger to the thread
on the angle indicator of each protractor.

3) Mount the Balance beam with the attached base near the center of the Statics
Board.

4) attache masses M1 and M2 and Position one of the protractors near one end
the beam and tighten its thumbscrew to hold it in place. Adjust the position
of the other protractor until the beam is perfectly balanced, and then tighten
its thumbscrew to hold it in place.

5) Measure d1 and d2 , the distances from the pivot to the center of each protractor
and record all readings in Table 1.

6) Vary M1 and M2 and repeat your measurements for different masses.

7) Use F = Mtotal g where g is the acceleration due to gravity to determine the

weight force of the hanging masses (Mtotal) and calculate the torques.
Experiment 8 86

Non-parallel forces

1) Mount the balance beam on the left half of the statics board. Adjust the
beam so that the zero marks on the beam align with the indicator marks on the
pivot. Put a protractor on each end of the beam as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Experimental setup for torque of non-parallel forces.

2) Use a hanging mass and the spring balance to apply forces F1 and F2 as illus-
trated in Figure 3 above.

3) Measure d1 and d2 and record these values in Table 2.

4) Record M2 and F2 of the hanging mass in Table 2. and Calculate the torque
of force F2 about the pivot point.

5) By moving the pulley, you can adjust the angle θ of the force F1 .

6) Set the angle θ to each of the following values: 30o , 40o , 50o , 60o , 70o , 80o . At
each angle, move the spring balance towards or away from the pulley as needed
Experiment 8 87

so that the magnitude of F1 is sufficient to balance the beam, then record the
reading on the newton scale of the spring balance.

7) Calculate the torque provided by the spring balance about the pivot (τ1 =
F1d1 sinθ) and the percentage difference between τ1 and τ2.

8) Compute the percent difference of the torque. It is equal to the difference of

the two torques (τ1 − τ2 ) divided by the sum of the two torques(τ1 + τ2 ).
Kuwait University Physics Department
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Experiment ( ) : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Total Mark
Experiment 8 88

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Torque of Parallel and Non-parallel Forces

Objectives:
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Torque of Two Parallel forces

Table 1: The mass of protractors: Mprotractor1 = ............. , Mprotractor2 = ............

M1 d1 F1 = ∗Mtotal1 g τ1 = F1 d1 M2 d2 F2 = ∗ Mtotal2 g τ2 = F2 d2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

Note that:∗ Mtotal1 = M1 +Mprotractor1 . This is also true for:∗ Mtotal2 = M2 +Mprotractor2 .
 Experiment 8 89

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Torque of Parallel and Non-parallel Forces

• Compare τ1 and τ2 and check the equilibrium condition equation (2).

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• From your results, what should be the relation between τ1 and τ2 in order for
the beam to be balanced?

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Torque of two non-parallel forces

Table 2: The mass of protractors: Mprotractor1 = ........... , Mprotractor2 = ............

τ1 = F1 d1 sin(θ)
(τ −τ )
F1 d1 θ +Mprot1 g d1 M2 d2 F2 = ∗Mtotal2 g τ2 = F2 d2 Error= τ1 +τ2 × 100
1 2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

30o

40o

50o

60o

70o

Note that:∗ Mtotal2 = M2 + Mprotractor2 .

Experiment 8 90

Kuwait University Physics Department

Physics Lab 105 & 125 Student Number:
Student Name: Date:

Torque of Parallel and Non-parallel Forces

Discussion and conclusions:

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