PH102 CLASSICAL PHYSICS

LAB REPORT 2 – Ex 3. USES OF A BALANCED METER RULER

TITLE: USES OF A BALANCED METER RULER

AIM
To utilize the principle of moments to determine the mass of a meter ruler and density of a
rock by applying Archimedes’ principle.

APPARATUS
metre ruler, cork, rock, long pin, stand with clamp, 100g mass, beaker of water, thread/string

METHOD
As per lab manual (University of the South Pacific, 2024).

INTRODUCTION
The principle of moments states that when in equilibrium the sum of clockwise moments is
equal to the sum of anticlockwise moments (Cercignani & Kremer, 2016).

∑ F 1 d 1=∑ F2 d 2 [Eq 1]

Where the subscripts 1 and 2 represent the moments clockwise and anticlockwise
respectively. In reference to the figure below, the moment equation for the meter ruler
where the moments are taken about the pivot (pin) is given in Eq 2 below, where AG is the
point of equilibrium for the meter ruler itself.

Figure 1 Experiment setup for Part 1, changing out the 100g mass for the rock for Part 2

m1 g d 1=m2 g d 2

100 x=m2 ( AG−l−x)

l= AG−x 1+
( 100
m2 )
l= AG−x
( m2+100
m2 )
l=−x
( m2 +100
m2 )
+ AG [Eq 2]

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The Archimedes principle states that when an object is submerged in water the upthrust is
equal but opposite to the mass of the liquid displaced (Mohazzabi, 2017). This upthrust
force (or buoyant force B) causes the object submerged to weigh less (an apparent loss of
weight). This can be demonstrated by weighing the object in air (w1) and in water (w2) ,
where the upthrust for is given by B=w1−w2 (University of the South Pacific, 2024), which
can be further expressed in terms of masses B=m1−m2 . Additionally, density is defined as
the ratio of mass to volume and given the density of water is 1000 kg m−3 , the relative
density ρr of the rock is given by:
m1
ρr = [Eq 3]
m1 −m2

RESULTS
Part 1 – Finding the mass of the meter ruler

AG=50.5 ±0.1 cm

l(± 0.1 cm) 2.5 5 10 20 30 40

x (± 0.1 cm) 23.5 22.5 19.8 14.5 9.5 4.5
Table 1: Observed values for Part 1

Figure 2: Graph of l−vs−x for the meter ruler. Note error bars for each point also displayed

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 Part 2: Finding the density of a stone

l(± 0.1 cm) X air (±0.1 cm) X water (± 0.1 cm)

2.5 23.5 28.7
5 22.5 27.2
10 19.9 24.2
20 14.8 18.2
30 9.7 12.2
40 4.8 6.2
Table 2: Observed values for Part 2.

Figure 2: l−vs−x for the stone in air and water. Measurements taken in air is shown by the
red line, and in water is shown by the blue line. Note, the point of intersection is shown to
compare with the measured value.

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ANALYSIS
Part 1 – Finding the mass of the meter ruler
Using Eq 2 by equating the expression for the gradient to the gradient value obtained in the
graph Figure 1.
−x ( 100 +mr )
l= + AG
mr
100+ mr
1.9546=
mr

mr ( 1.9546−1 )=100

100
mr =
1.9546−1
mr =104.76 g

Uncertainty analysis
Using linear regression to determine uncertainty in gradient value obtained in Figure 2
graph.
Residual^
Residual 2
x y x^2 xy y-(a+bx)
-
23.5 2.5 552.25 58.75 0.20323 0.041301
0.34215
22.5 5 506.25 112.5 5 0.11707
0.06468
19.8 10 392.04 198 8 0.004185
-
14.5 20 210.25 290 0.29478 0.086898
-
9.5 30 90.25 285 0.06787 0.004607
4.5 40 20.25 180 0.15904 0.025294
1771.2 1124.2
TOTALS 94.3 107.5 9 5 3.2E-14 0.279355

n 6
1735.2
delta 5
0.2642
sigmay 7

48.6367
a= 4 b= -1.95462
sigma sigma b
a= 0.267 = 0.01554

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 Gradient , m=−1.95462± 0.01554
Uncertainty for mass of meter ruler mr :
100 100
mr = = =104.76 ± 1.6 %
1.9546 ± 0.01554−1 0.9546 ± 0.01554
mr =( 104.76 ±1.7 ) g

Part 2: Finding the density of a stone

Equating the expression for the gradient in Eq 2 to the value of the gradients obtained in Figure 3, we
have the following and m r is the mass of the meter ruler found in Part 1.

−x ( ms+ mr )
l= + AG
mr

Finding the mass of the stone in the air:

( m1 +mr )
1.986=
mr

m1=mr ( 1.986 ) −mr

m1=(104.76) ( 1.986 )−104.76

m1=103.3 g

Uncertainty Analysis:
Residual Residual^2
x y x^2 xy y-(a+bx)
23.5 2.5 552.25 58.75 -0.257073002 0.066086529
22.5 5 506.25 112.5 0.256954028 0.066025373
19.9 10 396.01 199 0.093424309 0.008728101
14.8 20 219.04 296 -0.035037834 0.00122765
9.7 30 94.09 291 -0.163499976 0.026732242
4.8 40 23.04 192 0.105232475 0.011073874
TOTALS 95.2 107.5 1790.68 1149.25 -6.39488E-14 0.179873769

n 6
delta 1681.04
sigmay 0.212057639

a= 49.42744 b= -1.985972969
sigma a= 0.218864 sigma b = 0.012668947

Therefore, gradient m=(−1.986 ± 0.01267)

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Uncertainty analysis for mass of the rock ms in air:
m1=m . mr −mr =( 1.986 ±0.01267 ) × ( 104.76 ±1.7 )−(104.76 ±1.7)

m1=( 208.05 ± 4.5 )−( 104.76 ±1.7 )=(103.3 ±6.2) g

Finding the mass of the stone in the water:

( m2 +mr )
1.6667=
mr

m2=mr ( 1.6667 ) −mr

m2=(104.76) ( 1.6667 )−104.76

m2=69.84 g

Uncertainty Analysis:

Residual Residual^2
x y x^2 xy y-(a+bx)
28.7 2.5 823.69 71.75 3.5527E-14 1.26218E-27
27.2 5 739.84 136 2.8422E-14 8.07794E-28
24.2 10 585.64 242 2.1316E-14 4.54384E-28
18.2 20 331.24 364 0 0
12.2 30 148.84 366 0 0
6.2 40 38.44 248 0 0
TOTALS 116.7 107.5 2667.69 1427.75 8.5265E-14 2.52435E-27

n 6
delta 2387.25
sigmay 2.51E-14

a= 50.33333 b= -1.666666667
sigma a= 2.66E-14 sigma b = 1.25942E-15

Therefore, gradient m=(−1.667 ± 1.25E-15)

Uncertainty analysis for mass of the rock ms in water:

m2=m . mr −mr =( 1.667 ±1.25E-15 ) × (104.76 ±1.7 )−(104.76 ± 1.7)

m2=( 174.6 ± 2.8 )− (104.76 ± 1.7 )=(69.84 ± 4.5)g

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Finding the relative density of the stone
m1
ρr =
m1 −m2
103.3 g
ρr =
103.3 g−69.84 g
ρr =3.1

DISCUSSION
In utilizing the principle of moments, the experimental mass for the ruler was calculated to
be mr =( 104.76 ±1.7 ) gthis agrees with the measured value using the scale at 108 g. Random
and systematic errors such as accuracy in pin pointing equilibrium point, external factors
such as wind causing the mass to swing affecting the balance of the meter ruler.
In determining the mass of the rock in air and water, the experimental values were
m1=(103.3 ±6.2)g and m2=(69.84 ± 4.5)g respectively. This proves the Archimedes
principle that due to the upthrust force when an object is submerged in water, there is an
apparent loss of weight for the object. Also note that the intersection point in Figure 3
shows the equilibrium point for the ruler to be at 55.06 cm , this slightly differs from the
measured equilibrium point in Part 1 which was AG=50.5 ±0.1 cm . Again, the intersection
point was extrapolated from the data collected so error in measurement can contribute
significantly to the slight difference in the two values.

CONCLUSION
In utilizing the principle of moments, the calculated mass of the meter ruler was found to be
( 104.76 ± 1.5 ) g . The relative density of the rock was calculated to be ρr =3.1 quantifying the
buoyancy of the stone in water.

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REFERENCES

Cercignani, C., & Kremer, G. (2016). Method of Moments. Journal of Applied Mathematics
and Physics, 123-146.
Mohazzabi, P. (2017). Archimides Principle Revisited. Journal of Applied Mathematics and
Physics, 836 - 843.
University of the South Pacific. (2024, April 19). University of the South Pacific. Retrieved
from PH102 Lab Manual : https://elearn.usp.ac.fj/mod/folder/view.php?id=326955