National University of Sciences & Technology

Determination Maximum energy of a

fly wheel and maximum velocity of
the descending mass
Lab 01
Engineering Dynamics

Lab Instructor : Muhammad Tariq

OBJECTIVE: To determine maximum emery if a flywheel and maximum velocity of the

descending mass.
APPARATUS:

A wall mounted by fly wheel

Weight hanger

Set of weights
Cord
Measuring tape
Stop watch

THEORY:
A fly wheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store energy. It stores rotational
energy. The moment of inertia of fly wheel is very high, due to which it can resist any changes
in the rotational speed. A torque is applied on a flywheel which transmits the energy to it. The
applied torque results in an increase in its rotational speed and thus it stores a greater amount
of rotational energy. The amount of energy stored in a fly wheel is proportional to the square
of its rotational speed.
The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed
but can be converted from one form to another. In the experiment performed the potential
energy was changed to kinetic energy. Some of the energy was lost as it was consumed by the
fly wheel.
E=PE KE

FIGURE:

PROCEDURE:
1. First of all, give an initial spin to fly wheel for few minutes.
2. Now attach the cord of a fixed length at the spindle of the fly wheel. The length of the
cord is adjusted in such a manner that the weight pan touch to the ground on completely
release of the cord.

3. Now attach the weight hanger pan with the chord and wound round the cord.
4. Now release the fly wheel it will start to rotate. Measure time by stop watch when the
weight hanger strike to the ground.
5. Now increase the weight in steps of 0.5Kg to a maximum of 3 or 2.5Kg and repeat the
procedure for each weight.

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

Height: H =
Acceleration due to Gravity = 9.81m/s^2

S#
1
2
3
4
5

Mass
(Kg)
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5

Force
(N)

Time
(sec)

Velocity
(m/s)

Potential
Energy

Kinetic
Energy

Flywheel
Energy

National University of Sciences & Technology

Determination Limiting Coefficient of

Friction by using Brake Slip Friction
Apparatus
Lab 02
Engineering Dynamics

Lab Instructor: Muhammad Tariq

Objective:
To Determine Limiting Coefficient of Friction by using Brake Slip Friction
Apparatus

Apparatus:

Brake slip apparatus

Chord
Weight hanger
Set of weights

Theory:
Physical science background
The coefficient of friction between two surfaces is a number that determines
how much force is required to move an object that is held back by friction
when the two surfaces are pressed together.
The friction equation is Fr = fr x N, where Fr is the resistive force of friction
or the amount of force required to overcome friction, fr is the coefficient of
friction between the two surfaces, and N is the normal or perpendicular force
pushing the two surfaces together. If the force pushing to surfaces together
is gravity, then N equals the weight of the upper object.
Static and kinetic friction

For a sliding object, the static coefficient of friction results in the force
required to start the object moving. Once the object is sliding at a steady
rate, the kinetic coefficient of friction results in the force required to keep the
object moving at that velocity.
Using ramp

A clever way to determine the static coefficient of friction is to start an object

sliding down a ramp. The component of gravitational force that causes the
object to just start moving is equal to the resistive force to keep the object
stationary. That is the static force of friction.
Note that you must record what the two surfaces are. The coefficient of
friction is always for two surfaces. For example, you could find the friction
between wood and steel, wood on wood, rubber on wet pavement, and so
on.
Knowing the force required to overcome the friction and the force pushing
the object onto the ramp, will allow you to determine the static coefficient of
friction.

Mathematics
The coefficient of friction is calculated using trigonometry. Consider the
triangle in the drawing below.

Angles involved

C is the length of your ramp, which is inclined at an angle a and is at a

height of A. The length of the sides of the triangle are A, B, and C. The
relationship between the sides are the trigonometric functions sine of
angle a, which is abbreviated sin(a), cosine of a or cos(a) and tangent
of a or tan(a).
Since sin(a) = A / C and cos(a) = B / C, then sin(a) / cos(a) = tan(a).
Components of gravity
When an object that weighs W is on a ramp, the force of gravity can be
divided into components in perpendicular directions.
Normal force component

The force pushing the object against the surface of the ramp is reduced
because of the incline. The normal force N = W x cos(a), as show in the
picture below. In the case where there is no incline, a = 0 degrees and N =
W.

Components on ramp

Component down the ramp

The component of gravity is pulling the object along the ramp is F = W x

sin(a).
Object starts to move
Now when the angle a become steep enough, the object starts to move
and F = Fr, which is the force of static friction required starting the object
moving.
But you know that Fr = fr x N.
And for the object on the ramp, N = W x cos(a).
Thus W x sin(a) = fr x W x cos(a).
Using a little Algebra, we get fr = sin(a) / cos(a) or fr = tan(a).
Finally, since tan(a) = A / B, we have fr = A / B.
So, all you need to know is the angle the object starts to slide or the lengths
of its sides, and you can easily determine the coefficient of friction between
the two surfaces.

Free Body Diagram:

Procedure:

First of all brake is applied to the stationary wheel by hanging a known

amount of weight and the motor is disengaged during this procedure.
Now hang the weight hanger at the specific point of the wheel by
applying chord with the wheel.
Now keep on adding weights in the hangers until wheel start to move.
Note the weight value when wheel was just begun to rotate.

Observations and Calculations:

S.NO.

01
02

Net Weight
Wb=w1+w2

Weight
hanging with
wheel
Wc

Normal
Reaction
N

Coefficient of
static friction

03

Conclusion:

National University of Sciences & Technology

Friction on an Inclined Plane

Lab 03 (a)

Lab Instructor : Muhammad Tariq

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to determine the coefficient of friction
between various materials and a polypropylene plane.

Apparatus:

Sample block
Pulley
Hanger
Block of different materials
Weights
Pointer
Protractor
Inclined Plane

3
5
4

Figure 1 Unit
Assembly

1.
3.
5.
7.

Sample Block
Hanger
Weights
Protector

2.
4.
6.
8.

Pulley
Blocks of different materials
Pointer
Inclined Plane

Theory:
Friction is the resistive force that impedes the motion of a body when one tries to slide the object
along a surface. The friction force acts parallel to the surfaces in contact, opposes the relative
velocity of the body with respect to the surface, and its magnitude depends on the nature of the
particular materials that are rubbing together, but not on other variables, such as the area of
contact. This will be varied experimentally, and is true only in the macroscopic sense, since on
the molecular level things are much more complicated. For the case where the surfaces are in

motion relative to each other, the force is called the force of kinetic friction, and is found to be
proportional to the normal force acting at the region of contact, and always in opposition to the
velocity of the body relative to the surface of contact;

Thus the magnitude of the friction force can be written as

Where the constant of proportionality, k is the coefficient of kinetic friction. If the two bodies in
contact have no relative velocity, an even larger static frictional force must be overcome in order
to initiate slipping. This is of the same form

Only now Fe is the externally applied force that is attempting to cause to bodies to slip.
This static friction only acts to cancel out the external forces to prevent relative motion, and has a
maximum magnitude

Where s is called the coefficient of static friction. As indicated above, for most surfaces we find
that

Figure 2 Schematic of load

Procedure:
1. The surfaces used in this test must be cleaned for the experiment and kept
free from dirt when not in use.
2. The adjustable plane is to be positioned on a firm bench so that the load on
the hanger passes the edge of the bench as it descends.

3. Clamp the plane in the 0o position and use a spirit level to ensure the
whole apparatus is level.
4. Weigh all the trays, load hanger and record.
5. Place the sample tray on the horizontal polypropylene channel at the end
remote from the pulley.
6. Attach the towing cord and arrange it over the pulley with the load hanger
suspended. Add load to the hanger until the tray will continue to slide at
roughly constant velocity after being given a slight push to start it moving.
7. Record this load in table.
8. You may find that you need to lightly tap the bench which the unit is on or
the apparatus itself to induce movement in the tray.
9. Also ensure that the hanger is not swaying before loading.

Observations and Calculations:

Mass of sample tray = ____________
Mass of hanger = ____________

Sr. #

Slide Load
(g)

Normal Force RN
(g) (mass of
hanger + Slide
Load)

Load on hanger
(g)

Sliding Force
F(g)
(Hanger +load
on hanger)

1.
2.
3.

Graph:
Draw and attach Load vs. Sliding Force for all sets of readings.

Coefficient of
friction
= F/RN

Conclusion:

National University of Sciences & Technology

Friction on an Inclined Plane

Lab 03 (b)

Lab Instructor : Muhammad Tariq

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is first to finder the angle of friction of various
materials on a steel plane. The second object is to verify that the force required parallel to an
inclined plane to move a body up the plane corresponds to the friction coefficient (or angle)
already found.

Apparatus:

Sample block
Pulley
Hanger
Block of different materials
Weights
Pointer
Protractor
Inclined Plane

3
5
4

Figure 3 Unit
Assembly

9. Sample Block
11.Hanger
13.Weights
15.Protector

10.Pulley
12.Blocks of different materials
14.Pointer
16.Inclined Plane

Theory:
We can investigate kinetic friction by observing the motion of a block along a
level surface under the influence of an applied force. The block has a mass m 0, and extra masses
m can be added to it. A second mass M, hanging at the end of a string passing over a pulley,
applies a constant force to the block with its added masses, causing the system to move. As the
mass M falls, the block slides toward the right, and its motion is retarded by the friction force
pointing toward the left. If the mass M is chosen so that its weight just balances the friction

force, then the masses move at constant speed. Under this condition, the equations describing the
motion of the masses are

When T, the string tension, is eliminated from these equations we get

Figure 4 Schematic diagram

If we then plot M versus m, the result should be a straight line with slope k and intercept
km0.
To study static friction, we can use an inclined plane. As the angle of inclination is
increased from zero, the component of the block's weight pointing down the plane increases.
Because of the variable nature of static friction, the magnitude of the friction force keeps
increasing as the ramp is raised. At a certain critical angle, however, the friction force reaches its
maximum value, and any further increase in the angle will cause the block to begin sliding down
the ramp. At that critical angle, the forces on the block are described by

From which we find

Thus, by measuring the angle of inclination at which the block just begins to slide, we can
determine the coefficient of static friction.

Procedure:
1. The surfaces used in this work must be cleaned for the experiment and kept free from dirt
when not in use.
2. The adjustable polypropylene plane is to be positioned on a firm bench so that the load on
the hanger passes the edge of the bench as it descends.
3. Clamp the plane in the 0o position and use a spirit level to set the plane truly.
4. All the trays to be used must be weighed and their masses recorded as well as the hanger
being used.
5. Clamp the plane at 10o inclination.
6. Place the sample tray at the mid and put the towing cord and load hanger in position to pull
the tray up the plane.
7. Add load to the hanger until the tray, given a slight push, slides slowly up the plane.
8. Repeat the procedure with increased inclination.

Observations and Calculations:

Mass of sample tray = ____________
Mass of hanger = ____________

Angle of
inclination
(degree)

Mass of
block +
added mass
W(g)

Towing
Force
(hanger +
Weight on
hanger)
P(g)

Normal
Force
WCos

Sliding
Force PWSin

Friction
Coefficient
=P-Wsin
WCos

Friction
angle tan-1

The theory from which above table is developed is an extension of the previous experiment. In
this case the net force acting up the plane must be equal and opposite to the friction force. This
can be rearranged either in terms of P or as the experiment is essentially about the coefficient of
friction that determines the choice.

Figure 5 Free body Diagram

Graph:
Draw and attach Friction angle vs. load for all sets of readings.

Conclusion:

National University of Sciences & Technology

Point Masses
Lab 04

Lab Instructor : Muhammad Tariq

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment is to find the rotational inertia of a point mass and
rod experimentally and to verify that this value corresponds to the calculated theoretical value

Apparatus:

Rotation Body
Rotation axis with pulley drum
Wall Unit Frame
Load Hanger
Stand Rod
Guide Pulley
Stop Watch

1
2
6
5

1.

Rotation Body

4.

Load Hanger

2.

Rotation axis with pulley drum

5.

Stand Rod

3.

Wall unit frame

6.

Guide pulley

Figure 6 Unit Assembly

Theory:
Theoretically the rotational inertia I of a point mass is given by I = MR 2, where M is
the mass and R is the distance the mass is from the axis of rotation. Since this experiment uses
two masses equidistant from the center of rotation, the total rotational inertia will be:
Imass = Mtotal R2
Where
Mtotal = M1 + M2, the total mass of both point masses

Figure 7 Apparatus
Moment of Inertia of rod is given by
Irod = 1/12 ML2
Where M is the mass of rod and L is the length or rod
Ith = Imass + Irod
To find the rotational inertia experimentally, a known torque is applied to the object and the
resulting angular acceleration is measured since
= I
I = /
Where is the angular acceleration, which is equal to a/r (a = linear acceleration) and is the
torque caused by the weight hanging from the thread that is wrapped around the 3-step pulley.
= rT
where r is the radius of the pulley chosen of the 3-step pulley about which the thread is wound,
and T is the tension in the thread when the apparatus is rotating.
Applying Newtons Second law for the hanging mass m gives.

Figure 8 Free Body diagram

F = mg T = ma
Solving for the tension in the thread gives
T = m (g a)
Once the angular acceleration of the mass m is measured, the torque and the linear acceleration
can be obtained for the calculation of the rotational inertia.
=

h = vot +

a
r

1
2
2 at =

2h
t2

1
2
2 at

Figure 9 Free Body Diagram

Where h is the height of the mass hanger from the floor andt is the time taken by the mass to
cover the distance h.

Procedure:
1. Attach the rod with the apparatus as shown in figure.
2. Now attach the point masses with equal mass at both ends of the rod and measure the
distance R from center of rod.
3. Tie one end of the string to the mass hanger and the other end to one of the levels of the
3-step pulley.
4. Drape the string over the super pulley such that the string in the groove of the pulley and
the mass hanger hangs freely.
Note: The clamp on the super pulley must be adjusted at an angle so the thread runs in a
line tangent to the point where it leaves the 3-step pulley ad straight down the middle of
the groove on the clamp-on super pulley.

Figure 10 Apparatus

5. Measure the height h from the floor of the mass hanger with the help of an inch tape.
6. Drop the mass and note the time taken with the help of stop watch.

Figure 11 Free Body Diagram

Observations and Calculations:

Table 1 Observations
W
h
t1
t2
t3
tavg

Conclusion: