Introduction : The sum of all torques acting upon a body in equilibrium measured about any axis must be zero.

The net force will becomes 0 when the system becoming equilibrium. All forces will become 0 ( Y =0 and X = 0 ). Objective : To determine the mass of an object and the mass of a ruler by applying the condition of rigid body equilibrium. Apparatus : Object mo , metre rule , strings ,weights (range 10g 100g), retort stand, pulley. Set up apparatus : second

Procedure : 1. The apparatus was set up as shown in the Figure 1. The ruler is free to rotate at point B. A steel rod was use as a pivot for the ruler to rotate. 2. The distance of AB or L noted. 3. The object Mo as hung at point C and the weights M starting with M = 40g. The position of Mo was adjusted until the ruler is horinzontal and stable. The distance x (between points B and C) 4. Step 3 was repeated with different weights. (M = 50g, 60g, 70g, 80g and 90g). Make sure that the ruler is horizontal and the string at point A is perpendicular to the ruler. 5. The data was recorded in the Table 1. 6. The object Mo and ruler was weighed using a balance.

Result and analysis : Mass M (g) Distance x (cm) 40.0 37.0 50.0 34.0 60.0 30.0 Table 1 1. Graph M versus the distance x. 70.0 26.0 80.0 22.0 90.0 18.5

2. Calculation based on the mass Mo using the slope of the graph

Slope, m =

Gradient of the graph,m

( ( )

= -2.505 g/cm Thus, Mo = M L = 2.505 g/cm 50 cm = 125.25 g

3. Identifying of y-intercept in the graph and calculation of ruler mass.

Y-intercept M ruler

= = = =

M ruler 2 y-intercept 2 134.0 g 2 268.0 g

4. Calculation of the differences between calculated Mo and Mruler with the weighed values. Differences = calculated value real value

Mruler Calculated mass (g) Real mass (g) Differences (g) 268.00 52.93 215.07

Mo 125.25 50.00 75.25

5. Discussions The differences between value of Mruler and Mo from the experiment compared to the value of the real mass are so big. Thus, there are some error occured while conducting this experiment. In instrumental error, student should build the model based on requirement. Besides, there are some apparatus that cannot function well. Such as the pulley. During the experiment, the string on pulley does not move until student pulled the string a little bit. Personal error can be reduced if the reading and measuring data repeated at least 3 times. In experiment, student measured the straightness of the ruler based on their eye and not based on accurateness. Supposed that, when student is looking over the equilibrium of the ruler, the angle of ruler should be counted instead of based on their eyes views of the equilibriums.

Conclusions The mass of object Mo is 125.25 g and the mass of ruler is 268.00 g while the real mass of object Mo is 50.00 g and the real mass of ruler is 52.93 g. So, in conclusion the experiment has some error because the differences are so big. References http://web.mit.edu/emech/dontindex-build/full-text/emechbk_2.pdf retrieved on 1 August 2012 (02.47 am).