PHYSICS:PRE-LAB QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

EXPT.1: DETERMINATION OF THE MODULUS OF ELASTICITY

1.Explain the terms stress and strain.

Stress is a measure of the strength of the agent that is causing a deformation.If a force,F is
applied,possiblyobliquely,to a surface of area,A.Then Stress=Force S.I unit is N/m2.
Area
Examples are tensile,bulk,compressional and shearing stress.

Strain is the fractional deformation resulting from a stress.It is measured by the ratio of the
change in some dimension of a body to the original dimension in the change
occurred.Strain=Change in dimension
Original dimension
No S.I unit.Examples are tensile,shear and bulk strain.

2. What is modulus of elasticity?

It can be defined as the mathematical description of an object tendency to be deformed when a
force is applied to it. That is, Modulus of elasticity =stress S.I unit is N/m2
Strain

3.Find out and compare the Elastic Modulus values range for rubber and Aluminium.

Elastic Modulus value range for rubber is 0.01-0.1 N/m2.Elastic Modulus value range for
Aluminium is 10, 69, 95,110 N/m2.Comparing the two values, Aluminium having the highest
Elastic Modulus value is more rigid than rubber. That is,the higher the elastic modulus the rigid
the object becomes.

EXPT.2:HOOKE’s LAW

1.What is a deforming force?

It’s a force that causes changes in the shape and size of an object when applied.
2.What is Hooke’s Law?

It states that,provided the elastic limit is not exceeded,the extension(e) is proportional to the
Force(F) applied.

i.e.F∝e

F=ke where k=elastic limit and it’s unit N/m

3.State five ways in which a force can affect a body.

i.Deformation of a body

ii.Changes the direction of a body in motion.

iii.Brings a body in motion to rest.

iv.Increase or decrease the speed of a body in motion.

v.Causes a body at rest to move.

4.What is the difference between the proportional limit and the yield point of a spring that has
been over stretched?

Proportional limit is the greatest stress which a material is capable of sustaining without
deviation from proportionality of stress whiles Yield point is the point beyond the elastic limit in
which the elastic material has yield all its elastically permanently and has become
plastic.Also,proportional limit is the limit where Hooke’s Law applies whiles Yield point
Hooke’s Law ceases to apply.

EXPT.3:VISCOSITY MEASUREMENT WITH THE FALLING-BALL VISCOMETER

1.What is viscosity?

It is the internal friction that exists between the layers of the molecules of fluids in contact with
surfaces.

2.Mention any two Laws that govern this experiment.

i.Poiseuille’s Law

ii.Stoke’sLaw

3.State the forces that act on a falling body in a fluid.

i.Upthrust force
ii.Viscous force(drag)

iii.Gravitational force

iv.Weight

4.What happens to the viscosity of a liquid when its temperature is raised?

An increase in temperature decreases the rate of viscosity.

5.Which of following liquids is more viscousand why?1.Engine oil 2.Vegetable oil 3.Water

Engine oil is more viscous than vegetable oil and water because engine oil is more thicker than
vegetable oil and water is the least because it has low viscosity.

EXPT.4:EXPERIMENT WITH A HELICAL SPRING

1.Explain Hooke’s Law in your own words.

When a string is stretched, it reaches a point where when released it returns to its normal shape
and size. But when it is over-stretched, it reaches a point where when released it does not return
to its normal shape and size. Provided the elastic limit of the stretched string is not exceeded, the
extension (e) is proportional to the Force(F) appliedto the stretched string.

2.Mention two practical applications of Hooke’s Law

i. Spring balance

ii Thermodynamics

3.Explain the term period of an oscillatory body .

It’s defined as the total time taken by a body to complete one cycle.S.I unit is seconds(s).

EXPT.5:EXPERIMENT WITH A BIFILAR SUSPENSION

1.What is Simple Harmonic Motion?

S.H.M is the motion of a particle whose acceleration is always directed towards a fixed point and
is proportional to the distance from that point.

2.Explain the term frequency of an oscillatory body.

It’s defined as number of complete oscillations made in a second.S.I unit is hertz(Hz)

3.What is the difference between torque and a force?

A torque is a twisting force that turns to cause rotation whiles a force is a push or pull which
causes motion of objects.

EXPT.6:DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF LIQUID USING A LOADED TEST-TUBE

1.State the Law of Flotation.

It states that,an object will float in a fluid when the upthrust exerted upon it by the fluid in which
it floats equal the weight of the object.

2.What is the difference between density and relative density?

Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance with S.I unit kg/m3 whiles relative density is
the ratio of mass of substance to the mass of equal volume of water with no S.I unit.

3.What will happen to an object placed in a liquid if the density of the liquid is greater than that
of the object?

The object will float on the liquid.

4.What is the relationship between density and buoyancy?

Buoyancy relates to density by the fluid displaced to the immersion of the object.OR Density is
directly proportional to buoyancy.

EXPT.7:THE WATER EQUIVALENT OF A CALORIMETER

1.State the zeroth law of thermodynamics.

It states that,if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system,they are also in
thermal equilibrium with each other.

2.Why does ice melts faster in water than in oil when both liquids are at the same temperature?

Ice melts faster in water than oil because oil is more viscous and so resists the convectional flow
of the transferred heat energy to oil by substance and so this property makes it easier for ice to
melt faster in water than oil at the same temperature.

3.What is the difference between heat capacity and specific heat capacity of a substance?

Heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1K and
S.I unit is J/K whiles specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of 1kg mass by 1K and S.I unit is J/kg/K.

4.Mention five applications of heat absorption.

i.Heat pumps
ii.Boiler systems

iii.Coolers

iv.Chillers

v.Refrigerators

EXPT.8:NEWTON’S LAW OF COOLING FOR A LIQUID

1.State Newton’s Law of Cooling.

It states that,for a small difference of temperature between a body and the surrounding,the rate of
gain or loss of heat by the body is proportional to the difference in temperature between the body
and the surroundings.

2.Explain the mode of heat transfer by Conduction,Convection and Radiation.

EXPT.9:THE COEFFICIENT OF CUBICAL EXPANSION OF GLYCERINE USING

SPECIFIC GRAVITY BOTTLE

1.What is the difference between latent heat and sensible heat?

Latent heat is the quantity of heat required to convert the mass of substance from solid(or
liquid)state to liquid(or vapour)state at the same temperature whiles sensible heat is the quantity
of heat required to change the mass of substance without changing the state but change in
temperature occurs.

2.Explain the term coefficient of cubical expansivity?

It defined as the increase in volume per unit volume per Kelvin rise in temperature and S.I unit
K-1

α= Increase in volume =V2-V1

Initial volume><Temperature rise V1(T2-T1)
3.Explain the anomalous expansion of water?
When ice at about -10◦C is heated,it expands in volume until the temperature reaches 0◦C.After
this it begins to melt while the temperature remains constant at 0◦C.This melting is accompanied
by a contraction in volume.Between 0 and 4◦C the water contracts still further reaching its
minimum volume at about 4◦C.This means that water has a maximum density at 4◦C since
density=mass
volumeBeyond 4◦C the water
expands.
EXPT.10:MATHEMATICAL PENDULUM
1.What is the relationship between angular acceleration and angle?
It is the sine wave relationship given by the equation =g Where
g=gravitational constant Rsin θ
R=Distance
=angular acceleration
θ =angle of deflection
2.How do mass,length,or gravity affects the relationship between angular acceleration?
i.Mass does not affect the motion.
ii.The amplitude of the sine relation is proportional to the gravity.
iii.The amplitude of the sine relation is inversely proportional to length of pendulum.
3.For small oscillations,how does lengthor gravity affect the period or frequency of the
oscillation?
For small oscillation,increasing length doubles the period and halves the frequency.
For small oscillation,increasing gravity halves the period and doubles the frequency.