cantilever

Physics IA Lab Report
Research title : Depression of a Cantilever

Research question : Study of mass vs depression of a cantilever

Aim : To investigate the effect of changing mass to the depression, d, of a cantilever.

Variables : Dependent : Vertical distance of depression (m) Independent : Mass (kg) Constant : Distance where the mass is hung (m); Room temperature (0C) Apparatus : retort stand; metre rule (cantilever); 50 cm ruler; string, mass (50 g); clamp.

Uncertainty :

Data collection : I. Constant: Room temperature Initial d0 = 30 cm, when mass = 0 II. Data Table
Formula Involved :
Depression d = d0 – d1
Uncertainty of displacement Δd =; cm  m =

Data collection and processing :
Mass/g

Depression/m
(±0.0005 m)
Average Depression/m
Δd/m

d1 d2 d3 d4 d5

50
0.0360
0.0380
0.0370
0.0380
0.0370
0.0372
0.0010
100
0.0730
0.0740
0.0740
0.0730
0.0750
0.0738
0.0010
150
0.1090
0.1090
0.1100
0.1090
0.1090
0.1092
0.0005
200
0.1550
0.1540
0.1550
0.1540
0.1550
0.1546
0.0005
250
0.1880
0.1890
0.1900
0.1890
0.1890
0.1890
0.0010

#
Theory : (Hooke’s Law)
Where:, k = elasticity constant, Δs = depression
Method : 1. Clamp a metre rule unto a table (horizontal).
2. Set up a retort stand and clamp a 50 cm ruler vertically. Make sure the rulers are perpendicular to each other.
3. Record the value of initial depression d0 when no mass sig
4. Hang a mass constant 5 cm from the end of the horizontal ruler and record its depression d1.
5. Repeat the procedure 5 times by varying the mass hung and record the value of the depressions.
6. Enter the results into spreadsheet and plot a graph of Depression vs Mass

Setup of the experiment

Calculation (Sample) : 1. 26.4 cm = 0.2640 m
2. Depression = 0.3000 – 0.2640 = 0.0360 m 3. Avg Depression = Avg Depression = 0.0372 m 4.