Lab 1 B Force Polygon Report Print

UNIVERSITY COLLAGE OF TECHNOLOGY SARAWAK
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
EEM3951
ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1
LABORATORY REPORT
LAB CODE: LAB 1B
LAB NAME: FORCE POLYGON
GROUP NO: 3
GROUP LEADER: LAU KING TAI
GROUP MEMBERS: OWEN NGANG JIN ZHANG

TING KEE CHUONG
KONG KEW KIONG
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 16/10/2015
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 23/10/2015
LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR: TAHARAH EDIN

Content Page Number
Objective of Experiment 3
Theory/Introduction 3
Apparatus 4
Procedure 5-6
Standard Operating Procedures 6-7
Results 7
Discussion 8-13
Conclusion 13
References 13
TITLE: POLYGON OF FORCE
OBJECTIVE
To test that when four or more forces are in equilibrium at a point, they can be represented by
a Polygon of Forces from which unknown forces can be found. The forces forms a close
polygon.
THEORY
The polygon of force represent lot of the forces acting simultaneously to one point at the
same plane. All this forces acting on the point will make a Vector ( a quantity having
direction and magnitude) such as force. When four forces or more acts in the same plane but
in different directions on a stationary body, their lines of action meet at a point. Because of
this, the forces can be represented by a force diagram called the polygon of forces. This can
be used to find the magnitude and direction of two of the forces when the magnitude and
direction of all the other forces are known. In this experiment, we are guided to test the
polygon of forces when the forces are in equilibrium at a point. Equilibrium occur in which
the opposing forces are balanced or net force is equal to 0. Newton's second law stated that
the equilibrium requires the vector sum of the external forces acting on the point or body is
equal.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
Side
Pulley
Side Anchoring For Spring

Balance
Ring over The Center

Pin
Center
Pin
Cord Passing Over

Side Pulley
PROCEDURE
1. The pin was placed through the hole at the centre of the protractor.
2. The pin was anchored to the mounting board.
3. The centre ring was placed over the pin.
4. Two spring balance was taken and the ring was inserted at the end of each spring
balance into the centre ring.
5. For each spring balance, a spring balance anchor was taken and mounted on the board
at the desired angle.
6. The other end of the spring balance was inserted through the hole in the spring
balance anchor and the locking pin was tightened.
7. A location was chosen and a pulley was anchored to apply the third force.
8. A length of a string was taken and a loop was tied at each end of string. One loop was
slide through the centre ring.
9. The string was passed over the pulley and a load hanger was placed at the end of the
string.
10. The angle of the string that makes with the horizontal (zero degree line) was recorded.
11. Another location was chosen and another pulley was anchored to apply the fourth
force.
12. A length of a string was taken and a loop was tie at each end of the string. One loop
was slide through the centre ring.
string.
14. The angle of the second string makes with the horizontal zero (zero degree line) was
recorded.
15. The locking pin was loosen on one of the spring balance anchor and the spring
balance was adjusted so that the centre ring is centrally located about the pin. The
locking pin was tightened. This is the zero equilibrium position. If it is not possible to
obtain equilibrium then the first spring balance was locked and the second spring
balance was loosen and it was adjusted until equilibrium was achieved.
16. The angle of the spring balances that makes with the horizontal (zero degree line) was
recorded. And also initial reading on the spring balances was recorded.
17. Weights were added to both hangers. The centre ring will be displaced due to non-
equilibrium of the force system.
18. The spring balance was adjusted as described in step 15 until equilibrium was
achieved.
19. The forces on the load hangers and forces in the spring balances was recorded.
20. The experiment was repeated with different angles and weights.
Standard Operating Procedures
Setting up The System

1. Place the centre ring over the pin.
2. The ring was inserted at the end of each spring balance into the centre ring.
3. The other end of the spring balance was anchored to mounting at the top of the board
by using the locking pin.
4. Step 2 and 3 was repeated for the other spring balance.
5. Two locations was chosen and the pulley was anchored to apply the third and fourth
forces.
6. A length of string was taken and a loop was tied at both ends of the string. One loop
was slid through the centre ring.
spring.
8. The angle of the string that makes with the horizontal (zero degree line) was recorded.
9. Step 6 to 8 was repeated for the other pulley.
Setting the Zero Equilibrium Position.
10. The locking pin on one of the spring balance anchor was loosen and the spring
balance (force and angle) was adjusted so that the centre ring is centrally located
about the pin. The locking pin was tightened. This is the zero equilibrium position. If
it is not possible to obtain equilibrium then lock the first spring balance and the
second spring balance was loosen and it was adjusted until equilibrium is achieved.
11. The angle the spring balances was recorded to make with horizontal (zero degree line).
Initial reading on the spring balances was recorded.
Running the Test
12. Weights were added to both hangers. The centre ring will be displaced due to non-
equilibrium of the force system.
13. The spring balance was adjusted as described in step 15 until equilibrium is achieved.
RESULTS
Spring Balance 1 Spring Balance 2 Load Hanger 1 Load Hanger 2
Force, N Angle, ◦ Force, N Angle, ◦ Force, N Angle, Force, Angle, ◦
◦ N
3.5 49 3.5 128 5.3 220 5.3 325
7.0 49 7.0 128 10.3 219 10.3 325
12.0 49 12.0 128 15.3 219 15.3 326
16.0 49 15.0 126 20.3 219 20.3 325
19.0 49 20.0 132 25.3 218 25.3 324
*Note: The angle is measured from positive x-axis.

Discussion
1. Assume the spring balances force as the known forces.
In this experiment, we assume the spring balances force which is 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 as the
known forces, whereas the load hangers force which are 𝑇1 and 𝑇2 as the unknown
forces based on diagram (Free Body Diagram),
𝐹2 𝐹1
Diagram
𝑇1 𝑇2
2. Draw the polygon of forces using the spring balance forces and angles and the angles
of the two strings.
3. From the polygon of force diagram, measure the magnitude of the forces in the two
strings and compare it with experimental value.
4. Discuss the percentage error depend on your results.
|𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑙𝑡|

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100%
𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑙𝑡
From the forces diagram 1,
𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 1, 𝐿1 = 4.6630 𝑁
𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 2, 𝐿2 = 4.1881𝑁
Compare the theoretical result to the experimental result:

Type of forces Experimental result Theoretical result Error = Experimental result -
Theoretical result
𝐿1 5.3𝑁 4.6630𝑁 0.637 𝑁
𝐿2 5.3𝑁 4.1881 𝑁 1.1119𝑁
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿1 = 13.66%
𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿2 = 26.55 %


Theoretical result
𝐿1 10.3 𝑁 9.4𝑁 0.9𝑁
𝐿2 10.3𝑁 8.5 𝑁 1.8N

Theoretical result
𝐿1 15.3 𝑁 16.3324 𝑁 1.0324𝑁
𝐿2 15.3𝑁 14.7254𝑁 0.5747N
Theoretical result
𝐿1 20.3 𝑁 21.6339𝑁 1.3339𝑁
𝐿2 20.3𝑁 18.4734 𝑁 1.8266N


Theoretical result
𝐿1 25.3 𝑁 24.0163 𝑁 1.2837𝑁
𝐿2 25.3𝑁 24.5288𝑁 0.7712N
5. Comment on your results.
In this experiment, there might have some errors that affect our results
1. Parallax error
 We have to focus the ring that needs to more at the centre. And our eyes have
to perpendicular with the ring
2. Systematic error
 We have to take out all the load before starting the next round, it is because if
not, the spring that inside the spring balance may be affect the result.
3. Instrument error
 Most of instruments have readings that drift over time. The amount of drift is
generally not a concern, but occasionally this source of error can be significant
and should be considered.
Conclusion
As the conclusion, we prove that the forces in an equilibrium system will forms a closed
polygon of forces diagram and this diagram can be used to find the unknown force in the
equilibrium system. But percentages of L2 of result 1&2 have above 20% because of
instrument error for load hanger. The hypothesis is acceptable.
References
 Junkie, T. (n.d.). Polygon Law of Forces. Retrieved from ScholarExpress:

http://scholarexpress.com/polygon-law-of-forces/
 Law of Polygon. (2007-2015). Retrieved from Transtutors.com:
http://www.transtutors.com/homework-help/mechanical-engineering/force-systems-
and-analysis/law-of-polygon.aspx
 R. C. Hibbeler, & Kai Beng Yap. (n.d.). Mechanics for Engineers - STATICS.
 https://web.viu.ca/dickb/phys111/Lab%20Procedures/02%20ME1.pdf
 http://www.ukessays.com/essays/engineering/polygon-of-forces-and-condition-of-
equilibrium.php

Lab 1 B Force Polygon Report Print

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UNIVERSITY COLLAGE OF TECHNOLOGY SARAWAK

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

LAB CODE: LAB 1B

LAB NAME: FORCE POLYGON

GROUP LEADER: LAU KING TAI

GROUP MEMBERS: OWEN NGANG JIN ZHANG

KONG KEW KIONG

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 16/10/2015

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 23/10/2015

LECTURER/INSTRUCTOR: TAHARAH EDIN

Standard Operating Procedures 6-7

Side Anchoring For Spring

Ring over The Center

Cord Passing Over

2. The pin was anchored to the mounting board.

3. The centre ring was placed over the pin.

Standard Operating Procedures

Setting up The System

Running the Test

*Note: The angle is measured from positive x-axis.

|𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡 − 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑙𝑡|

Compare the theoretical result to the experimental result:

From the forces diagram 2,

Compare the theoretical result to the experimental result:

From the forces diagram 3,

From the forces diagram 5,

Compare the theoretical result to the experimental result:

 Junkie, T. (n.d.). Polygon Law of Forces. Retrieved from ScholarExpress:

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