Topic

: Inertia Balance Inference : The inertia of an object depends on its mass. Hypothesis : The larger the mass, the larger the inertia. Aim of experiment : To study the relationship between mass, m and frequency, f of an inertia balance.

 Variables

: Manipulated variable : mass, m Responding variable : frequency, f Fixed variable : the distance of the centre of weighed load from the clamp. Apparatus/material : G-clamp, inertia balance, stopwatch, cylindrical mass

 Arrangement

of materials :

 Procedure

: 1) A G-clamp is clamped to a leg of a table as shown. 2) A 300 g cylindrical mass is fixed to the free end of the inertia balance. 3) Therefore the end of the inertia balance is displaced horizontally and released so that it oscillates. 4) The time for 10 complete oscillations, t is measured using a stopwatch.

5) Step 2 until 3 are repeated two times and takes the average reading. 6) The period of oscillations, T is determined by using formulae (t / 10). 7) The frequency, f is determined by using f = 1/T. 8) Step 2 until 4 are repeated using cylindrical mass of m = 600 g and 900 g. 9) The graph of f against m is plotted.

Tabulation of data :
t (s) t (s) t average (s) T (s) f (Hz)

m (g)
300

600

900

 Conclusion

: The frequency, f is inversely proportional to the mass, m. The larger the mass, m the larger the inertia. Hypothesis is accepted. Precaution : Take steps to reduce error due to your reaction time when starting or stopping the stopwatch.

m (g) t (s) t (s) t average (s) T (s) f (Hz) 300 2.9 3.1 3.0 0.3 3.33 600 4.7 4.9 4.8 0.48 2.08 900 5.8 6.0 5.9 0.59 1.69

m (g) t (s) t (s) t average (s) T (s) f (Hz) 300 2.9 3.1 3.0 0.3 3.33 600 4.7 4.9 4.8 0.48 2.08 900 5.8 6.0 5.9 0.59 1.69

m (g)
300

t (s)
2.9

t (s)
3.1

t average (s)
3.0

T (s)
0.3

f (Hz)
3.33

600

4.7

4.9

4.8

0.48

2.08

900

5.8

6.0

5.9

0.59

1.69