Determination Of Youngs Modulus

Capilano University
Abstarct
The objective of the report is to determine the Youngs Modulus of meter stick wood. All the
variables in the equation were experimentally measured. Using a mass of 450 g, the deflection
was measured for each overhang length. The deflection was considered as a function of the
overhang length. A graph was plotted of D=AL
3
where A is the co-efficient. Using this value of
A, Youngs Modulus was calculated. The experimental value was found to be (16.8+-
2z .9)10
9
N/m
2

Introduction
Youngs Modulus is defined as measure of the stiffness of the material. It is calculated by
measuring the dimensions of the material, mass overhanging and acceleration due to gravity. The
equation for youngs modulus is given by E=

Where
m in g Mass attached to the ruler
A in cm
-2
Co-efficient. It is the slope of the line of graph D
versus L
3

E in N/m
2
Young modulus for the wood meter stick
g in m/s
2
Acceleration due to gravity
w in cm Width of the ruler
t in cm Thickness of the ruler

The co-efficient A was determined from the graph of deflection versus overhanging length.
When a mass is attached to the ruler which overhangs a surface, we see a deflection of the ruler.
Using this idea, the deflection at each overhanging length was determined. The mass used was
450 g. The masss was kept constant. Different overhang lengths were chosen. The value of the
overhanging length was cubed. Since it is the independent variable, it was plotted on the X-axis.
The deflection values were plotted on the Y-axis. The graph was a straight line. The slope of the
line is the co-efficient A. This value was substituted in the equation for the Youngs Modulus.
The power relation between deflection and overhanging length is given to be
D=AL
n

Where
L in cm Length of the overhanging meter rule
D in cm Deflection of the meter ruler due to the mass
Ud in cm Distance between the ruler and the ground
before the mass was attached to the ruler
d in cm Distance between the ruler and the ground after
the mass was attached to the ruler
I Trial number


Data

m=450+-5 g
w=2.6+-0.3 cm
t=0.6+-0.3 cm






























I L cm Ud cm d cm
1 93.1 +-0.5 91.5+-0.5 77.6+-0.5
2 88.20.5 91.6+-0.5 78.3+-0.5
3 80.1+-0.5 91.7+-0.5 81.7+-0.5
4 75.1+-0.5 91.6+-0.5 83.7+-0.5
5 70.1+-0.5 91.6+-0.5 85.4+-0.5
6 65.2+-0.5 91.7+-0.5 86.7+-0.5
7 60.2+-0.5 91.6+-0.5 87.8+-0.5

8 55.1+-0.5 91.7+-0.5 88.6+-0.5
9 40.1+-0.5 91.7+-0.5 90.7+-0.5
10 30.1+-0.5 91.7+-0.5 91.2+-0.5
Sample calculations

To calculate the deflection of the meter ruler,

x=L
3
x= x(

)

= (cm)
3
=cm
3
(

)

= (93.1)
3
=cm
3

=806954.491
=
80.7(0.5/93.1)
=19502.1225
=80.7*10
4
=2.0*10
4

x= (x+-x) cm
3
= (80.7+-2.0)10
4




D =d-d
=cm - cm
=cm
=91.5-77.6
=13.9


D=(D+-D) cm
(13.9+-1.0)cm

Similarly for all other trials of D and L
I L
3
* 10
4
cm D cm
1 80.7+-2.0 13.9+-1.0
2 68.6+-1.2 13.3+-1.0
3 51.39+-0.96 10.0+-1.7.9+-0.1
4 42.36+-0.85 7.9+-1.0
5 34.45+-0.74 6.6+-1.0
6 27.72+-0.64 5.0+-1.0
D= d + d
=cm + cm
=cm
=0.5+0.5
=1.0

7 21.82+-0.54 3.8+-1.0
8 16.73+-0.46 3.1+-1.0
9 6.45+-0.24 1.0+-1.0
10 2.73+-0.14 0.5+-1.0

The values were plotted on the graph. The slope calculations are shown on the graph. From the
best and worst fit lines, the slope was calculated to be (0.1875+-0.0098)10
4
. This is the value of
the co-efficient A.

Calculation for Youngs Modulus.

E=

)
=

)

=

=(

)



Trial notes
The mass overhanging from the ruler was the combined mass of the stand and masses given. The
deflection distance was measured from ground to the bottom of the ruler.