Equilibrium state of Torque

“​ Magnitude of Torque = (Magnitude of force) X (Lever arm)​ ” 

“  𝚺T = 0. “ 

Conducted by
Watcharit Polsen (Wade) #5961154

Supervised by
Ms. Susana Alulod, Accelerated Physics #11-01,
Mahidol University International Demonstration
School (MUIDS)
Abstract:
This experiment is conducted in order to understand the concept of Equilibrium system in
Torque. The weight and the spring are located on either sides of the ruler. The weight is 20 cm
away from the center of the ruler/ axis point and the spring is 15 cm away. For the first time, the
weight is increased by 1 N for every trials and, as the weight increased each trials, the force on
the spring is applied to make the ruler become horizontal linear which indicates the system is at
equilibrium state. After the ruler is linear, record the value of force on the spring, and compute
the force applied on the spring before calculate the difference between the value of two forces. In
the second, however, the weight is the same throughout each trials which is 2 N, but the force on
the string need to be applied with angles which are 51, 32, and 13 respectively. After the system
is in equilibrium state, the data is recorded and will be used to find the percentage difference
later on. The results in the first experiment are in the area of expectation while the second one,
however, are having some huge fluctuation of the value that may be caused from human errors.

Introduction:
There are many hidden forces in this world that scientists had discovered them and learnt
about their usage. One of them is the force that is normally found on the object move in circular
path with an axis act as a rotating point. This force is called “Torque.” Torque, defined by
Oxford Dictionary (n.d.), is as simple as “the force that tends to cause rotation.” Torque is the
force that act on the object to move in circular path which have a “Pivot” or an axis act as a point
of rotation. There is also a distance of the object from the axis that is also directly proportional to
the Torque as well. The distance is called “The lever arm.” If the object(s) of the system is
positioned as far away from the axis point, the larger the Torque is. However, in case of the
object is closed or at the axis point, Torque is cancelled to zero or in a very low amount. The
equation of Torque is the following ones:

“ Magnitude of Torque = (Magnitude of force) X (Lever arm) ”

Torque also possessed positive and negative values of itself based on the direction the force is
applied; going clockwise is negative(-) while going anti-clockwise is positive(+). This leads to
the next idea of this topic that Torque could also stays in Equilibrium state like Laws of Inertia as
well. And the possibility is absolute. According to Richmond M. (n.d.), Torque in Equilibrium is
also called “Rotational Equilibrium” which may not entirely means the object is not rotating, yet
it also means it moves in constant velocity too. Torque in equilibrium state take place when all
the forces act on the system are cancelling each other perfectly without leaving any force left or
as simple as “ 𝚺T = 0. ” To make the Torque becomes equilibrium, adjustments can occur
anywhere within the system from the force applied on the objects to the distances of the objects
from the axis.

Objectives:
In this lab, the main goal is to understand the conception of Torque in Equilibrium state
in two different situations; the force applied on the spring goes vertically linear with the weight
increasing in each trials, and the force applied on the spring had an angle but with the same
weight throughout the lab. The lab also aims to determine the difference of Torque when there is
an angel applied and when there is no angel there as well.

Apparatus:
● A stand
● A 60-cm Ruler
● 2 hooks
● A weight holder
● A spring holder
● Masses
● A Protractor

Procedure:
1. Collect the apparatus for the experiment
 2. Assemble the stand and have the ruler hang on the stand with its 0 cm at the
center
3. Equip the weight holder 20 cm away at the left of the center, and the spring holder
is 15 cm away at the right.
4. Add a mass of 50g into the weight holder
5. Pull the spring holder until the ruler is horizontal linear
6. Record the force in the spring holder in Table 1
7. Add another 100g mass and repeat step 5) and 6) two times.
8. After finish recording Table 1, remove the mass until it reaches 200g
9. Put a Protractor at the spring holder then pull it at an angle of 51​o​, 32​o​, and 13​o
respectively.
10. Record the data in Table 2, then compute for percentage difference in both tables

Set-up:
Result Data:

Table 1: Torque as a function of distance

Trial F​1​ , N F​2​, measured, N F​2​ computed, % difference

N*

1 1 N / 100g 1.4 N 1.3 N 7.4 %

2 2 N / 200g 2.8 N 2.6 N 7.4 %

3 3 N / 300g 4.2 N 4N 4.9%

Table 2: Torque as a function of angle and distance

Trial F​1​ , N F​2​, measured, θ F​2​ computed, % difference

N N*

1 2N 4.2 51​o 4.2 N 0%

2 2N 6.2 32​o 3.1 N 66.7%

3 2N 4.0 13​o 2.7 N 38.8%

Calculation:
“ Magnitude of Torque = (Magnitude of force) X (Lever arm) ”

“ 𝚺T = 0 “

* The lever arm of the force is 15 cm from the axis point and the weight is 20 cm away.
Table 1) : Since; 𝚺T = 0

Therefore; F1(l) = F2(l)

Trial 1 ; F2 = 2015N cm
. cm
= 1.3 N

Trial 2 ; F2 = 4015N cm
. cm
= 2.6 N

Trial 3 ; F2 = 6015N cm
. cm
=4N

Table 2) : Since; 𝚺T = 0

Therefore; F1(l) = F2(l)

40N . cm
Trial 1 ; F2 = cos(51)(15) cm = 4.2 N
40N . cm
Trial 2 ; F2 =​ cos(32)(15) cm = 3.1 N
40N . cm
Trial 3 ; F2 =​ cos(13)(15) cm = 2.7 N

2(F 2 measured − F 2 computed)

Thus; % difference =​ (F 2 measured +F 2 computed) X 100

2(1.4−1.3)
Table 1) : Trial 1; % difference = 2.7 X 100= 7.4%

2(2.8−2.6)
Trial 2; % difference = 5.4 X 100= 7.4%

2(4.2−4.0)
Trial 3; % difference =​ 8.2 X 100= 4.9%
 2(4.2−4.2)
Table 2) : Trial 1; % difference =​ 8.4 X 100 = 0%

2(6.2−3.1)
Trial 2; % difference = 9.3 X 100 = 66.7%

2(1.4−1.3)
Trial 3; % difference =​ 2.7 X 100 = 38.8%

Analysis:
The experiment itself showed the results of the force required to make the system in the
state of equilibrium, which shows that the force applied on the spring holder has to be more than
the amount of force of the weight. From Table 1, there seems to be no error and no fluctuation on
the value between the weight and the torque that applied on each side of the hands for the
amount of magnitude applied on each trials are gradually increase with no differences between
the measured torque and the computed ones go beyond 10% difference. However, in Table 2,
when applied angles into the system, even with the same weight in every trials, the difficulties
for this is on the attempt to pull the force indicator as steady as possible which proves to be a
little challenging for finding an accurate force in order to find torque. This error also applied to
the massive changes of percentage differences between the measured torque and computed ones
as it becomes obvious according to the result in Trial 2 and 3 on the Data Table 2). But to come
as a surprise in the first trial of Table 2, the difference between the computed and measured
spring force are somewhat show no different at all. This also probably from the human error, but
somehow a fortunate turn of event instead.

Suggestion:
This experiment was done by a person which proves to be a little challenging when it
comes to conducting the experiment itself, especially when recording the data of the Torque with
an angle. This makes the data from Table 2 are somehow not really accurate as it should that
may mainly based from the human error. Despite of the hardship while doing the lab, the results
of the experiment turned out to still be in the range of expectation.

Conclusion:
Torque in equilibrium state is dependant on the same amount of force applied for the
entire system, which comes from the distance of the object from the center, the direction of the
applying force, and the angle that the force applied into the system itself. The chance of high
difference between the measured torque and computed torque is highly likely when the force has
an angle on the system.

Reference:

● Oxford Dictionary (n.d.). ​Torque | Definition of torque in English by Oxford

Dictionaries​. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/torque

● Richmond, M. (n.d.). Torque and Rotational Equilibrium. Retrieved February 27, 2018,
from ​http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys211/lectures/torq/torq_all.html