Apparatus:

1. Parallelogram Apparatus (Gravesand’s Apparatus)

2. Two Slotted Weights With Hanger
3. Wooden Block With Hook
4. Spring Balance
5. Mirror Strip
6. Cotton Thread (roll)
7. Drawing Pin

Theory :

In Fig. 5.1 we see the Gravesand’s apparatus or Parallelogram apparatus. It consists of a wooden
board A fixed vertically on two pillars. There are two pulleys P and Q fitted at the same level at the
top of the board. Three set of slotted weights are supplied with the apparatus which can be used to
verify the parallelogram law of vectors. A thread carrying hangers for addition of slotted weights is
made to pass over the pulleys so that two forces P and Q can be applied by adding weights in the
hangers. By suspending the given object, whose weight is to be determined, in the middle of the
thread, a third force W is applied.
Fig 5.1

If two vectors acting simultaneously on a particle are represented in magnitude and direction by the
two adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point, then their resultant is completely
represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of that parallelogram drawn from that point.

Let two vectors (P) ⃗ and (Q) ⃗ act simultaneously on a particle O at an angle θ as shown in figure
5.2. They are represented in magnitude and direction by the adjacent sides OA and OB of a
parallelogram OACB drawn from a point O. Then the diagonal OC, will represent the resultant R in
magnitude and direction. Mathematically we can say,

(R) ⃗= (P) ⃗ + (Q) ⃗

If a body of unknown weight W is suspended from the middle hanger and balancing weights P and Q
are suspended from other two hangers then, (R) ⃗ and the three vectors (P) ⃗,(Q) ⃗ ,(W) ⃗ are in
equilibrium. Under equilibrium |W| ⃗= |R| ⃗. Weight of a body is a force.

Hence, |W| ⃗ = |P| ⃗+|Q| ⃗.

Equation 1
or,

If S is the actual weight of the body, then the percentage error in the experiment can be calculated
using

Equation 2

Procedure :

1. Set the Gravesand’s apparatus with its board in vertical position with the help of plumb line.
2. Ensure that the pulleys are moving smoothly. Oil them if necessary.
3. Fix a drawing paper sheet on the board with the help of drawing pins.
4. Take a long thread and tie two hangers H1 and H2 to the both ends of the thread.
5. Tie the given body B, whose weight is to be found, with one end of another shorter thread.
6. Tie the other end of the shorter thread in the middle of the longer thread to form a small knot,
O. This knot becomes the junction of the three threads.
7. Pass the longer threads over the two pulley P1 and P2 of the apparatus and place two equal
slotted weights P and Q the hangers H1 and H2 .
8. The body B is made to hang vertically with the knot O somewhere in the drawing paper.
9. Adjust the weights P and Q to keep the knot O at a position slightly below the middle of the
paper. This is the equilibrium position of O. Ensure that all the weights hang freely and do
not touch the board.
10. Mark the position of junction O on the white paper by a pencil.
11. Ensure that there is no friction at the two pulleys P1 and P2. For that purpose, disturb the
positions of P and Q a little and leave them. The knot should go back to its initial equilibrium
position, If it does not, oil the pulleys to remove friction.
12. Mark the position of the equilibrium of the knot (O) by a dot of a pencil on the paper sheet.
13. Take the thin mirror strip m and place it breadthwise on the paper under one of the
threads. See the image of the thread in the mirror. Adjust your line of sight such that it is at
right angle to strip and the thread. At this point cannot see the image of the thread (meaning,
parallax is removed). Mark two points P1 and P2 on the paper, on either side of the strip
exactly behind the thread.
14. Similarly, mark two points Q1, Q2 and W1, W2 for the other two threads.
15. Remove the threads and hangers from the apparatus and note the weights of the two hanger
H1 and H2 along with the slotted weights in table 5.1. Let these two weights be P and Q.
 16. Remove the paper from the board and join P1 and P2, Q1, Q2 are W1, W2 with the help of
ruler to get three lines which should meet O. These three lines represent the directions of
three forces.
17. To represent the vector, chose a suitable scale, say 10 gm (0.1N) = 1 cm.
18. Cut the lines OA and OB to represent the forces and respectively. For example, if P = 60
gm and Q = 60 gm, then OA = 6 cm and OB = 6 cm.
19. With OA and OB as adjacent sides, complete the parallelogram OACB as shown in fig 5.2.
20. Join O and C. The length OC represents the resultant vector which corresponds to the
unknown weight W.
21. Measure OC (l) and multiply it by the scale (10 g) to get the value of R.
22. Measure the angle () using a protractor and calculate W using equation (i).
23. Repeat the experiment with fresh paper and using different weights (un-equal) P and Q in
the hangers.
24. Find the calculated value of weight R.
25. Measure the actual weight (S) of the unknown weight (W) by the spring balance and
calculate the percentage error using equation (ii).

Observation:

Least count of spring balance, L.C. = _______________ gm

Weight of B by spring balance, S = ________________gm

Scale factor: Let ______ cm = ___________gm

Table 5.1 Measurement of weight of given body

Calculations:
Result:

For equal weights

Weight of unknown body by observation, W: ……………………….

Weight of unknown body by calculation, W': ……………………….

For un-equal weights

Weight of unknown body by observation, W: ……………………….

Weight of unknown body by observation, W': ……………………….

Precautions :

1. The pulleys should be frictionless.

2. The boards should be stable and vertical.
3. The hangers should not touch the board.
4. There should be one central knot and it should be small.
5. When the lines of action of the forces are marked, the hangers should at rest.
6. The scale should be so chosen that a fairly large parallelogram is obtained.
7. Threads should be strong and thin, so that they may be regarded as massless.