Chapter 1 Mechanics and Acoustics

19

1.4. THE TORSION PENDULUM. PROPAGATION VELOCITY OF
TRANSVERSAL WAVES IN SOLID MEDIA
1. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATION
When the metallic wire of a torsion pendulum finds itself under the action of a
torque, the force momentum M is proportional with the torsion angle o:
M=-C o (1),
where C is the elastic constant of torsion.
From the kinetic moment theory:
0
I M o = (2),
where I
0
represents the system's momentum of inertia.
From (1) and (2) one obtains the following differential equation:
2
0
0
C
0 or 0
I
o o o e o + = + = (3),
where with
0
0
C
I
e = it is denoted the pendulum internal frequency.
In the approximation of small oscillations, the oscillation period is given by the
following relation:
0
0
0
I 2
T 2
C
t
t
e
= = (4)
In figure 1 is presented the sketch of a Weber-Gauss torsion pendulum. For two solid
bodies of equal mass m placed at distance l symmetrically with respect to the
pendulum axis the momentum of inertia becomes:
2
0
I I 2ml = + (5)
and the oscillation period:

2
0
I 2ml
T 2
C
t
+
= (6)
The elastic constant of torsion can be determined from the relations (3) and (5) and it
is expressed in the following form:
2 2
2 2
0
8 ml
C
T T
t
=

(7)
The torsion modulus of the material can be determined with the aid of the equation:
4
32L
D C
d t
= (8),
Chapter 1 Mechanics and Acoustics
20

where L is the length and d the wire diameter.
Knowing the torsion modulus and the material density from which the wire is made of
one can determine de propagation velocity of the transversal waves in the material:
l
D
v

= (9)

2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
In the figure 1 the experimental device is presented consisting of:
support S
wire W
horizontal rod HR
solid bodies of equal mass m

Fig. 1. The Weber-Gauss torsion pendulum











Fig. 1. Experimental setup

3. DIRECTIONS
(a) with a ruler measure the wire length L and with a micrometer the diameter d;
(b) determine the period of small oscillation (T
0
) for the unloaded pendulum by
measuring the time t
0
in which the pendulum carries out a number of n
0
complete
oscillations (more than 5) (
0
0
0
t
T
n
= ). Repeat this operation at least three times and
determine T ;
(c) vary the distance l and repeat the previous step.
m
l l
L
S
W
Chapter 1 Mechanics and Acoustics
21

Determine the elastic constant C from the relation (7) by using instead of T
0
and T the
average values and
0
T T . The torsion modulus can be determined using the relation
(8). Hence, the propagation velocity of the transversal waves will be determined using
the relation (9).
The measured as well as the calculated values will be transcribed into the experimental
data table.
For the calculations m=49.7 g and =7880 kg/m
3
shall be considered.

4. EXPERIMENTAL DATA TABLE

t
0
T
0

0
T m l t T
T
C L d D v
t
v
t

t
v
o
No. n
0

s s s kg m
n
s s s
Nm
rad
m m
N
rad
m/s m/s m/s