BML Munjal Green Medwos School

Class XI
Subject: Physics

EXPERIMENT: 5
Aim
To find the force constant of a helical spring by plotting a graph between load and extension.

Apparatus
Spring, a rigid support, a 50 g or 20 g hanger, six 50 g or 20 g slotted weights, a vertical wooden
scale, a fine pointer, a hook.

Theory
When a load F suspended from lower free end of a spring hanging from a rigid support, increases
its length by amount l,

It is called the force constant or the spring constant of the spring,

From above if l = 1, F = K.
Hence, force constant (or spring constant) of a spring may be defined as the force required to
produce unit extension in the spring.

Diagram

Procedure

1. Suspend the spring from a rigid support. Attach a pointer and a hook from its lower free
end.
 2. Hang a 50 g hanger from the hook.
3. Set the vertical wooden scale such that the tip of the pointer comes over the divisions on
the scale but does not touch the scale.
4. Note the reading of the position of the tip of the pointer on the scale. Record it in loading
column against zero load.
5. Gently add suitable load of 50 g or 20 g slotted weight to the hanger. The pointer tip
moves down.
6. Wait for few minutes till the pointer tip comes to rest. Repeat step 4.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 till six slotted weights have been added.
8. Now remove one slotted weight. The pointer tip moves up. Repeat step 6. Record the
reading in unloading column.
9. Repeat step 8 till only hanger is left.
10. Record your observations as given below.

Observations
Least count of vertical scale = 0.1 cm.

Graph
Plot a graph between F and l taking F along X-axis and l along Y-axis. The graph comes to be a
straight line as shown below.
from graph, change of F from B to C changes l from B and D. It means that 250 g wt produces
2.5 cm extension.

Result
The force constant of the given spring is 100 g wt per cm. [Remember with this spring, a spring
balance of range 1 kg will have a scale of length 10 cm]

Precautions

1. Loading and unloading of weight must be done gently.

2. Reading should be noted only when tip of pointer comes to rest.
3. Pointer tip should not touch the scale surface.
4. Loading should not be beyond elastic limit.

Sources of error

1. The support may not be rigid.

2. The slotted weights may not have correct weight:
 EXPERIMENT : 6

Aim
To study the relationship between the temperature of a hot body and time by plotting a cooling
curve.

Apparatus
Newton’s law of cooling apparatus (a thin-walled copper calorimeter suspended in a double
walled enclosure), two thermometers, clamp and stand, stop clock/watch.

Theory
Newton’s law of cooling, states that the rate of cooling (or rate of loss of heat) of a body is
directly proportional to the temperature difference between the body and its surroundings,
provided the temperature difference is small.

Diagram

Procedure
 1. Fill the space between double wall of the enclosure with water and put the enclosure on a
laboratory table.
2. Fill the calorimeter two-third with water heated to about 80°C.
3. Suspend the calorimeter inside the enclosure along with a stirrer in it. Cover it with a
wooden lid having a hole in its middle.
4. Suspend from clamp and stand, one thermometer in enclosure water and the other in
calorimeter water.
5. Note least count of the thermometers.
6. Set the stop clock/watch at zero and note its least count.
7. Note temperature (T0) of water in enclosure.
8. Start stirring the water in calorimeter to make it cool uniformly.
9. Just when calorimeter water has some convenient temperature reading (say 70°C), note it
and start the stop clock/watch.
10. Continue stirring and note temperature after every one minute. The temperature falls
quickly in the beginning.
11. Note enclosure water temperature after every five minutes.
12. When fall of temperature becomes slow note temperature at interval of two minutes for 10
minutes and then at interval of 5 minutes.
13. Stop when fall of temperature becomes very slow.
14. Record your observations as given ahead.

Observations
Least count of enclosure water thermometer = ……………….°C
Least count of calorimeter water thermometer = ………..°C
Least count of stop clock/watch = …………….s.
Table for time and temperature
(Note. The ideal observations given above are as sample.)

Calculations
1. Temperature of water in enclosure will be found to remain same. If not then take its mean as
T0.
2. Find temperature difference (T – T0).
3. Plot a graph between time t and temperature T, taking t along X-axis and T along Y- axis. The
graph comes to be as shown in below. It is called Cooling curve O of the liquid.

Result
The temperature falls quickly in the beginning and then slowly as difference of temperature goes
on decreasing.
This is an agreement with Newton’s law of cooling.

Precautions

1. Double-walled enclosure should be used to maintain surrounding at a constant

temperature.
2. Stirring should remain continuous for uniform cooling.

Sources of error

1. Surrounding temperature may change.

 Experiment No. 7
Aim
To determine the coefficient of viscosity of a given viscous liquid by measuring terminal
velocity of a given spherical body.
Apparatus
A half metre high, 5 cm broad glass cylindrical jar with millimetre graduations along its height,
transparent viscous liquid, one steel ball, screw gauge, stop clock/watch, thermometer, clamp
with stand.
Theory
Terminal velocity is defined as the highest velocity that is attained by an object as it falls through
a fluid. When the sum of drag force and buoyancy are equal to the force of gravity, terminal
velocity occurs.
Following is terminal velocity formula:

Where,

• v is the terminal velocity

• r is the radius of the spherical body
• g is the acceleration due to gravity
• ρ is the density of the spherical body
• σ is the density of the liquid
• η is the coefficient of viscosity

Diagram

Procedure

1. Clean the glass jar and fill it with the viscous liquid, which must be transparent.
2. Check that the vertical scale along the height of the jar is clearly visible. Note its least
count.
3. Test the stop clock/watch for its tight spring. Find its least count and zero error (if any).
4. Find and note the least count and zero error of the screw gauge.
5. Determine mean radius of the ball.
6. Drop the ball gently in the liquid. It falls down in the liquid with accelerated velocity for
about one-third of the height of liquid. Then it falls with uniform terminal velocity.
 7. Start the stop clock/watch when the ball reaches some convenient division (20 cm; 25 cm
;………..). Note its fall.
8. Stop the stop clock/watch just when the ball reaches lowest convenient division (45 cm).
9. Find and note the distance fallen and time taken by the ball.
10. Repeat steps 6 to 9 two times more.
11. Note and record temperature of the liquid.
12. Record your observations as given ahead.
Observations
Least count of vertical scale = 1 mm
Least count of stop clock/watch = …….. s
Zero error of stop clock/watch = ……. s
Pitch of screw gauge (p) = 1mm
No. of divisions on the circular scale = 100
Least count of screw gauge (LC) = 1/100 = 0.01 mm
Zero error of screw gauge (e) = …… mm
Zero correction of screw gauge (c) = (-e) = ….. mm
The diameter of the spherical ball

• Along one direction, D1 = ….. mm

• In the perpendicular direction, D2 = …….. mm
Terminal velocity of spherical ball
Distance fallen, S = …… cm
Time taken,
t1 = …….. s
t2 = …….. s
t3 = …….. s

Calculations

Result
The coefficient of viscosity of the liquid at a temperature (T℃) = ……. C.G.S.units
Precautions
 1. Liquid should be transparent to watch motion of the ball.
2. Ball should be perfectly spherical.
3. Velocity should be noted only when it becomes constant.
Sources of error
1. The liquid may not have uniform density.
2. The ball may not be perfectly spherical.
3. The noted velocity may not be constant.
 Experiment No. 8
Aim
To find the speed of sound in air at room temperature using a resonance tube by two resonance
positions.

Apparatus
Resonance tube, two timing forks of known frequencies 512 Hz and 480 Hz, a rubber pad, one
thermometer, plumb line, set squares, water in a beaker.
Theory
Let l1 and l2 be the length of the air column for the first and the second resonance respectively
with a tuning fork of frequency v.

Diagram

Procedure

1. Set the resonance tube vertical by making the base horizontal, using levelling screws. Test
it with plumb line.
2. Fix the reservoir R in the upper most position.
3. Loose the pinch cock P completely and fill the reservoir and metallic tube completely
with water by a beaker.
4. Tight the pinch cock, lower the reservoir and fix it in the lowest position.
5. Take tuning fork of more frequency. (It will be smaller in size and will give shrill sound).
Vibrate it with a rubber pad and hold it with its vibrating prongs in vertical plane just over
the end of the metallic tube.
 6. Loose the pinch cock to make water level fall down in the metallic tube. Tight the pinch
cock when some sound is heard in metallic tube.
7. Vibrate the tuning fork again and put it as before. Loose the pinch cock a little to make
water level fall by 1 mm. Note change in loudness of sound.
8. Repeat step 7 till sound heard from the metallic tube has maximum loudness (The air
column is in resonance with the tuning fork).
9. Note the position of water level in glass tube against metre scale S (using set square).
Record it in ‘first resonance—water level falling’ column.
10. Lower the water level by about 1 cm and tight the pinch cock.
11. Raise the reservoir and fix it again in upper most position.
12. Repeat step 7. This time water level will rise. Raise it by 1 mm and note the change in
loudness of sound.
13. Repeat step 12 till sound heard from metallic tube has maximum loudness again.
14. Note the position of water level in glass tube against metre scale S (step 9). Record it in
‘first resonance—water level rising’ column.
15. Lower the reservoir and fix it in the lowest position.
16. Lower the water level to about three times the reading for first resonance.
17. Repeat steps 5 to 9. Record the water level position in ‘second resonance—water level
falling’ column.
18. Repeat steps 10 to 14. Record the water level position in ‘second resonance—water level
rising 1 column.
19. Repeat steps 13, 14 and 18 three times.
20. Repeat steps 5 to 19 with second tuning fork of lower frequency.
21. Note and record frequency of tuning forks which is engraved on them.
22. Find temperature of air in air column of the resonance tube by suspending a thermometer
in it.
(Note. Find this temperature in the beginning and at the end. Use its mean in calculation.)
23. Record your observations as given below.
Observations

Temperature of air in air column :

(a) in the beginning, t1 =……….°C
(b) at the end, t2 = …………°C

Table for resonant length of air column

No. of Frequency of First Resonant Length L cm

observation tuning fork
1 2 3 Mean
 1 fA = 480 Hz

2 fA = 512 Hz

Calculations

Result
Velocity of sound in air at room temperature
= 35078 cm/s = 350.78 m/s
Precautions

1. Resonance tube should be vertical.

2. Pinch cock should be tight.
3. Tuning fork should be vibrated gently by a rubber pad.
4. Prongs should be vibrated in a vertical plane above the mouth (end) of the metallic tube.
5. Prongs should not touch the end of the metallic tube.
6. Reading for water level falling and rising should be noted.
7. Reading should be noted using a set square.
8. While measuring air temperature, thermometer bulb should not touch water or sides of
resonance tube.
Sources of error

1. Resonance tube may not be vertical.

2. Pinch cock may be loose.
3. The edge of open end of metallic tube may not be at zero of metre scale (but this error
becomes eliminated in (l2 – l1).
4. Air in air column is denser than open air outside. This may reduce velocity.
5. Air in air column has humidity. This may increase velocity.