Physical Lab Experiment on Equilibrium of Objects

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Table of Contents

Summary
Experimental Objective
Theoretical Background
Experimental Procedures
Experimental Data
Data Analysis
Discussion
Conclusions

Summary

Experiments are carried out in the laboratory to help students gain practical experience on the theory studies experienced during other classes. It is a good introduction to an apprenticeship that helps students to deal with technical matters in around the technology world.

This experiment was accomplished through an introduction to study mechanism under Newton’s second law that states force is a product of mass and acceleration of the body. It is, for this reason, it qualifies to be a vector quantity.

In a better part of this experiment led to determining methods that can help us locate the center of gravity of regular bodies. Through considering the measurements of the bodies with regular shapes, it was easy to locate the C. O. G through bisection.

Experimental Objective

The main objectives of this experiment were to determine the equilibrium of objects when forces and torques are applied to the body.

To locate the center of gravity of different bodies of regular shapes such as circular, triangular and rectangular shaped objects.

Another objective was to find out how energy is conserved in bodies in motion.

Theoretical Background

Force is one of the components of Newton’s laws and it falls under the second law. It is calculated as:

Force=mass*acceleration

A push or a pull on a body is regarded as a force. This force is associated with many effects such as changing the speed of an object, alteration of direction of the motion as well as deformation of shapes of bodies. Generally, its description using both magnitude and direction makes it a vector quantity.

To understand the forces acting on the body to make it into equilibrium they must be equal from both directions. If forces are not uniformly acting on a body it leads to mechanical stress. As a result, the body cannot balance if the pivot is not put at the center of gravity. This concept of C. O. G have been used in many places where the balancing of objects is required for example for decoration purposes.

Experimental Procedures

The following are the steps followed in this experiment:

There was a demonstration of force where it was clear that it was vector quantity
The concept of force being a vector was used to demonstrate this effect in determining the equilibrium of the physical bodies
Uniform motion of pendulum was demonstrated where we used spring/mass system
Lastly, we used bodies in motion at different slope angle to determine how energy is conserved in bodies in motion as well as forces acting on these bodies.

Experimental Data

Different shapes were used in this experiment to determine their centre of gravity. It was observed that, Centre of gravity of these shapes laid a point midway the objects. Calculations were carried out to determine the C. O. G points.

For instance, to determine the C. O. G of a circle, two diameters were drawn from different points of the circle. Where these two diameters intercepted it was regarded the point of equilibrium.

C. O. G

To determine the point of equilibrium of rectangle measuring 12 cm by 8 cm, two diagonals were drawn from vertices of the rectangle. The point of inception, halfway of the two 14.5 cm diagonals formed the point of equilibrium of this rectangle.

C. O. G

4cm

12cm

Similarly or the other shapes employed this method of bisecting and finding the point of interception of the bisectors. This will be shown in the diagrams above.

Data Analysis

It was indentified that, when a single shape is used to determine its’ C. O. G it was much easier than a combination of two shapes. For instance, to determine the C. O. G of a circle you just need to draw two diameters from two different points of the circle. The interception of these two diameters will form the C. O. G. of this circle.

A different scenario involved a T-shaped shape involving two rectangles. This required more mathematical calculation since apart from getting the C. O. G. of each rectangle; an extra point is determined by bisecting the point between the C. O. Gs.

4cm

12 cm C. O. G

Discussion

From the above observations it is clear that it is very easy to determine the centre of gravity of any given body of any shape. It is easier to come up with the C. O. G of regular shaped bodies than the complicated or multi-shaped bodies.

Although this experiment concentrated on regular shapes, it is suggested that even the centre of gravity of irregular bodies can be determined in the same way only that more tasks are carried out.

In irregular shapes, multiple lines are drawn in order to come up with the most probable C. O. G.

When the C. O. G of a physical body is known, it is easier to determine the point of equilibrium and calculation of mass requirements in equilibrium systems.

Conclusions

Force as described above plays a better part of our daily life activities and hence this experiment was crucial undertaking. With good understanding of how force works will help the students to appreciate how nature and its components interacts in a stable manner.

The issue of determining the Centre of Gravity is another concept worth noting since I cannot imagine what would happen if our bodies and other mechanical object can operate if we did not have a centralized centre of gravity. It would become easy to fall and even causing damages or injuries to people.

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