Youngs Modulus

Aim: To find the Youngs Modulus of a copper wire. Apparatus: -Metre Ruler -Copper wire -Micrometer screw gauge -10g and 20g weights -Weight holder -Microscope with Vernier Scales Diagram:

Method: 1. The diameter of the piece of wire was measured with a micrometer screw gauge. These measurements were repeated several times and an average was taken.

2. One end of the wire was clamped between two wooden blocks and to the bench with a clamp. It was made sure that the wire was clamped tight so that it would not slip. 3. To the other end of the wire, two smaller blocks, were clamped very tightly and around these blocks a loop of string was tied. This loop needs to be strongly tied so that it is able to support a number of weights without slipping or breaking. The load will be hung from this loop. 4. It was made sure that the wire was taut and free from kinks. 5. The original length of the copper wire was measured and noted while using a metre rule. 6. Every time the wire was loaded with a weight, the reading of the extension was taken from the vernier scales. Table of results: lo = 2.967 m Stress = F/A

exto = 1.57 cm

Strain = l/lo

Diameter of Copper wire = 0.122mm

Area of Copper wire =

r2

x (6.110-5)2

1.1710-8 m2

Mass (g)

Force (N)

Extension (cm)

New Length on extension ruler (cm)

Strain

Stress

1.57

0.00E+00 0.00E+00

10

0.1

0.03

1.6

1.01E-05 8.55E+06

20

0.2

0.16

1.73

5.39E-05 1.71E+07

30

0.3

0.2

1.77

6.74E-05 2.56E+07

40

0.4

0.25

1.82

8.43E-05 3.42E+07

50

0.5

0.3

1.87

1.01E-04 4.27E+07

60

0.6

0.32

1.89

1.08E-04 5.13E+07

70

0.7

0.34

1.91

1.15E-04 5.98E+07

80

0.8

0.36

1.93

1.21E-04 6.84E+07

90

0.9

0.39

1.96

1.31E-04 7.69E+07

100

0.43

1.45E-04 8.55E+07

120

1.2

0.56

2.13

1.89E-04 1.03E+08

140

1.4

1.06

2.63

3.57E-04 1.20E+08

160

1.6

2.57

4.14

8.66E-04 1.37E+08

180

1.8

4.7

6.27

1.58E-03 1.54E+08

200

8.38

9.95

2.82E-03 1.71E+08

Precautions: 1. After the placement of each weight, two minutes were allowed prior to taking a reading so as to allow full extension. 2. The wire was ensured to be free of kinks. 3. The wire was burned to remove varnish. 4. The weights were added 10g or 20g each time so that the elastic limit isn`t reached immediately. 5. Safety glasses were used so that if the elastic limit would have been reached and the wire cuts, no one would not be hurt. Errors: 1. In this set-up a control wire was not set up therefore there might be a change in length due to an increased temperature. 2. Some drought might have moved the weights causing an extension on the wire rather than just only because of the weights.