Experiment 6

Maxwell’s wheel
Apparatus:
Maxwell’s wheel, support base, support rod, right angle clamp, cursor, connecting cord, light barrier with
counter, holding devices, power supply 5V DC/2.4 A, meter scale.
Purpose of experiment:
(i) To determine the moment of inertia of the Maxwell disc by measuring the distance travelled by the
center of gravity of the Maxwell’s disc as a function of time.
(ii) To verify that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy in rolling without slipping phenomena.

Basic Methodology: A disk, which can unroll with its axis on two cords, moves in the gravitational
field. The potential energy, the energy of translation and the energy of rotation are converted into one
another and are determined as a function of time.

I Theory
The mechanical energy(E) of a system is the sum of the potential energy(U ) and the kinetic energy(K);
E = K + U . The law of conservation of mechanical energy states that if a body or system is subjected
only to conservative forces like gravitational force, etc, the total mechanical energy of that body or
system remains constant. Though energy cannot be created nor destroyed in an isolated system, it
can be internally converted to any other form of energy, e. g., in a mechanical system like a swinging
pendulum subjected to the gravitational force where the frictional force is assumed negligible, energy
passes back and forth between kinetic and potential energy but never leaves the system. The pendulum
reaches greatest kinetic energy and least potential energy when in the vertical position, because it will
have the greatest speed and be nearest the Earth at this point. On the other hand, it will have its least
kinetic energy and greatest potential energy at the extreme positions of its swing, because it has zero
speed and is farthest from Earth at these points. The conservation of gravitational potential energy into
kinetic energy can be studied using the Maxwell’s wheel experiment. The total mechanical energy E of
the Maxwell disk, of mass m and moment of inertia IZ about the axis of rotation, is composed of the
potential energy U , the energy of translation KT and the energy of rotation KR :

1 1
E = −mgs + mv 2 + IZ ω 2 (1)
2 2

1 IZ
E = −mgs + (m + 2 )v 2 (2)
2 r
Here, ω ~ × ~r the translational velocity, g the acceleration due to
~ denotes the angular velocity, ~v = ω
gravity and s the (negative) height. Since the total energy E is constant over time, differentiation with
initial condition, s(0) = 0, v(0) = 0, gives

mg
v(t) = t (3)
m + IZ /r2

and
mg
s(t) = t2 . (4)
2(m + IZ /r2 )

So one can expect s ∝ t2 and v ∝ t are valid. In this experiment we test the conservation of energy in a
system, we shall see that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
2 PHYSICS LABORATORY MANUAL

II Set up and Procedure:

Figure 1: Experimental set up for investigating the conservation of energy, using the Maxwell disk.

The experimental set up is shown in Fig. 1. First assemble the frame with the light barrier using the
stand material. Then attach the rod of the Maxwell wheel, in such a way, that the wheel axle is level
and the strings are even on both sides.

Measurement of the time t required for the distance s

• Use stop-watch to measure the time taken for a fixed height.

• Take observation for 5-6 different heights. Higher the heights less will be error.

Measurement of ∆t to ascertain the translational velocity v.

• Place the switch on of the fork type light barrier.

• Press the “Set” button of the light barrier.

• Release the wheel, it is set into motion.

• As soon as the axis of rotation enters the fork type light barrier, the counter starts and stops when
it moves past the light ray.
∆t ∆s
• The velocity at the time t + 2 is ascertained from the measured time ∆t by v (t + ∆t/2) = ∆t .

Since distance s and time t can by measured relatively accurately, independently of one another, the
moment of inertia of the wheel IZ can be determined almost accurately by Eq. (4). The time ∆t generally
have less accuracy. So it is not advised to derive IZ from Eq. (3). However we shall use this value to
calculate kinetic energy and rotational energy of the disk.

2
Experiment 6 Maxwell’s wheel 3

III Exercises and Viva Questions

mg
1. How can we determine the moment of inertia of the Maxwell’s disc from the graph s = t2 ?
2(m + I/r2 )
mg
2. If we take log both sides of the the relation “s = t2 ” and assume log(s)as y and log(t)
2(m + I/r2 )
as x, which one will determine the moment of inertia of the disc: (a) slope (b) intercept on y axis
3. Does the distance travelled by the center of gravity of the Maxwell’s disc depend on the mass of
the disc if total mechanical energy is conserved?

4. Does the distance travelled by the center of gravity of the Maxwell’s disc depend on the mass of
the disc if the frictional force” f = bv” be present?
5. Can we measure the moment of inertia of the disc accurately if the wheel axle is not leveled properly?
6. Is it possible to determine the moment of inertia of the disc if it is oscillating after the start of the
experiment?
7. Will the relation, in general, “s ∝ t2 ” be valid if total mechanical energy is not conserved?
8. Does the moment of inertia of the Maxwell’s disc depend on the frictional force if it is present?
mg
9. Can we use the relation “s = t2 ” to determine the moment of inertia of Maxwell’s disc
2(m + I/r2 )
if the frictional force ”f = bv” be present?
10. Does the moment of inertia of the Maxwell’s disc depend on the frictional force if it is present?

11. Can we use the relation,in general, “v ∝ t” if total mechanical energy is conserved?
12. Can we use the relation,in general, “s ∝ t2 ” if total mechanical energy is conserved?