Cantilever

Design
Research question:
What is the time taken for each oscillation with a change in
force applied at the edge of a scale?
The Variables:
Independent variable:
The amount of force applied.
Dependent variable:
The time taken for each oscillation.
Controlled variables:
Constant width, length and breath of the scale.
Same weight and material of the scale.
The amount of water (force) dropped on the scale.
Leveled smooth surface where the clamp is placed.
Distance where the scale and the clamp are put together to be
constant
The apparatus:
One 100cm scale
Cantilever
Water
Pump with different forces
Sticky tape
A smooth flat table/ surface
Stopwatch
Protractor
Power socket

The setup:

Controlling variables
Independent variable: The amount of force applied.
The amount of force applied on the scale, should be constant for each
force the experiment is carried out. This force should be increase by 0.5 N
every time the experiment is carried out again. The water can be poured
from about 10 cm above the ruler. This should be kept constant every time
the experiment is carried out for a different force.
To measure the force applied, the pump should be used, and the particular
force required should be set on it. This force should be measured every
time there is a change / increase in the force that is applied on the scale.
Also, the force applied should not increase to the level to while that the
scale doesnt oscillate any more and breaks off the clamp. For each force,
the experiment should be carried out 3 times to attain accuracy.
Dependent variable: The time taken for each oscillation.
The time taken for each oscillation can be determined through the use of
the stopwatch. Due to the increase in the force applied on the scale, the
time taken for each oscillation will keep increasing. This should be done,
by taking in account the time taken for 10 oscillations and dividing the
time by 10 to attain accuracy and gain the time for each oscillation.
The beaker should be kept at a constant height from the scale to reduce
errors as a increase in distance might increase/decrease the force applied.
When the scale has oscillated 10 times, the stop watch should he stopped,
thus giving us the time taken for 10 oscillations.

Assuming that each oscillation will take the same amount of time, to find
out the time taken for each oscillation, the time recorded on the stopwatch
should be divided by the number of oscillations (which in this case is 10).
Dependent variable: The angle moved by the scale.
The angle moved by the meter ruler will depend upon the force put on
the ruler. With the increase in the force, the angle will increase. This
angle should be measured by using a protractor.
Controlled variables:
o The width, breath and length are all constant for the
experiment to me performed. Along with this, even the
material of the scale and weight of it cannot be
changed, as this would increase the uncertainty.
o The pump has to be used because the force has to be
constant. Equal amount of water should be poured.
The Procedure:
1. The cantilever has to be fixed on the flat surface. The
cantilever should not move through out the experiment.
2. Pour 10 ml of water in the beaker and put on a particular force
on the pump and pour the water.
3. Note down the deviation on the on the protractor and the time
taken for 10 oscillations.
4. Note down the time for the 10 oscillations.
5. Leave the scale to oscillate about the mean position.
6. Repeat the experiment from step 1 to 5 and carry it out for the
particular force 3 more time.
7. Then change the force on the pump and carry it out. For each
time, note down the angle and the time taken for 10
oscillations.
8. Each oscillation would mean from the start point to the
extreme deviation to the initial point and then to the other
extreme deviation and back to the initial.
9. It is very difficult the start the stopwatch as soon as the
oscillations start so it is advisable that for each time the
experiment is carried out, the stopwatch should be started
after 2 oscillations.
10.
For the time taken for10 oscillations, should be divided
by 10 to find the time taken for one. The will be the time
period of the cantilever.
11.
The entire procedure should be repeated with at least
10 different forces on the water.

12.
The will allow you to know, weather with different forces
the time period changes and allow us to know the relation.
13.
The graph can allow us to find out the exact relation.
Data table:
Force (N)

Time taken for

oscillations (s)

Expected results Graph:

10 Time taken for each

oscillation (s)