Date:

Experiment No:
Experiment Name: To determine the modulus of rigidity of a wire by the method of
oscillations (Dynamic method).

THEORY:
If a heavy body be supported by a vertical wire of length l and radius r, so that the axis of the
wire passes through its center of gravity and if the body be turned through an angle and
released, it will execute torsional oscillations about a vertical axis. If a at aby instant the angle
of twist be θ, the moment of the torsional couple exerted by the wire will be
nπr4
= Cθ - - - - - - - - - - - -(i)
2Lθ
nπr4
Where, = is a constant
2L
And n is modulus of rigidity of the material of the wire. Therefore, the motion is simple
harmonic and of fixed period.
I
T = 2𝜋√ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (ii)
C
Where I is the moment of inertia of the body
From (i) and (ii)
2
4π2 I
𝑇 =
C
8πIL
or, 𝑇 2 = 4
nr
8πIL
or, n = 2 4 dynes/sq.cm
𝑇 r

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APPARATUS:
1. A uniform wire,
2. A disc or cylindrical bar,
3. Suitable clamps,
4. Stop-watch,
5. Screw gauge,
6. Meter scale etc.
7.
Description of the apparatus: The apparatus consists of a solid cylinder C suspended
from a rigid support by means of the wire of which the modulus of rigidity is to be determine.
The upper end of the wire A is fixed at a rigid support. By means of a detachable screw the
cylinder is attached to the lower end of the wire B so that the axis of suspension coincides
with the axis of the cylinder. In some cases, the whole arrangement is enclosed in a glass case
to avoid air disturbances.

PROCEDURE:

1. Detach the cylinder from the suspension and weigh it with a balance. Also measure its
diameter by means of a pair of slide calipers at five different places. Then calculate
the moment of inertia of the cylinder from its mass M and radius a using the relation
l
l = 𝑀𝑎2
2
2. Measure the diameter of the wire by means of a screw gauge at five different points
along the length of the wire. Taking two mutually perpendicular reading at each
position.
3. Suspend the cylinder with the experimental wire from the rigid support so that it
rotates about the axis of the wire.
4. Measure the length of the wire from the point of support and the point at which the
wire is attached to the cylinder with a rod and meter scale.
5. Put a vertical chalk mark on the surface of the cylinder and when it is at rest, place a
pointer facing the vertical line. In reference to this pointer, oscillations are counted.
Alternately a telescope is to be focused from a distance on the vertical line on the
cylinder so that it may remain coincident (without parallax) with the vertical line of
the cross-wire of the telescope.
6. Give a little twist to the cylinder from its position of rest through a certain angle so
that it begins to oscillate about the axis of suspension. With the help of a stop-watch,
note the time for 30 complete oscillations. When the vertical line on the cylinder is
going towards the right, crossing the tip of the pointer or the vertical line of the cross-
wire of the telescope, a stop watch is started. The cylinder will perform one complete
oscillation when the line on it crosses the pointer or the vertical line of the cross-wire
again in the same direction.
7. Repeat the operations three times and from these observations calculate the mean
period of oscillation.

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 (A) Reading for the diameter of the wire:
The value of are division of liner scale, s= 0.01 mm
Total division number of the circular scale, n= 100
Pitch, p=1 mm
p
∴Least count, L.C= n
1
=
100
=0.01 mm

No of Liner No of Least Diameter Average Radius Radius

observation scale divisions count d=L+(C×LC) (d) 𝒅 𝒅
r=𝟐 r=𝟐
Reading in the LC in mm in mm
mm cm
(L) circular in mm
in mm scale (c)
1
2 0.01
3

(B) Reading for the diameter of the cylinder:

Smallest division of main scale,s = 0.1cm
Total number of division of vernier scale,n=10
S
∴Vernier constant, (v.c) = N
O. O1
=
10
= 0.01 cm

No of M.S V.S Vernier Reading Mean Radius

Observation Reading Reading Constart a=M+(V×V.C) Reading 𝒅
r=𝟐
M in cm V V.C in cm in cm
cm
in cm
1
2 0.01
3

(C)Mass of cylinder, M = cm
Moment of inertia of the cylinder
l
I = 𝑀𝑎2
2
or, I = cm
(D) Length of the wire, L.
(i) cm;
(ii) cm;
(iii) cm

Mean L = cm

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 (E) Reading for the time period T.

No of obs. Time for 30 oscillations Period of oscillation Mean Time period

T in sec T in sec
1
2
3

CALCULATION:

8IL
Modulus of rigidity, n = 4 dynes/sq.cm
T2r

or, n =
or, n =

RESULT: The modulus of rigidity is dynes/sq.cm.

DISCUSSION:

1. Since the radius of the wire occurs in fourth power, it should be measured very
accurately.
2. A large number of oscillations should be counted for determining ordinary T, the
period of oscillation.
3. The experimental wire should pass through the axis of the cylinder.
4. The pendulum oscillation of the cylinder, if any, should be stopped.
5. Since the ratio of displacement to the acceleration is constant, the angular amplitude
has any value within the elastic limits of the experimental wire.
6. With the increase of the length of the wire period of oscillation increases and with the
increase of the diameter of the cylinder the period decreases.

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