Lab Manual 2005

• We need to provide a “controlled” torque that we will attempt to balance with our force sensor’sapplied force. This “controlled” torque can be provided by hanging a fixed mass of 200 g, 20 cmaway from the pivot on the left side. We do not yet know the magnitude of the “controlled” torquebut we do know that it is being kept constant throughout all the trials.• Attach a force sensor to the MPLI box, enter MPLI and open a file called “Torque.exp”.Calibrate the force sensor (see Appendix C).• Tie a string to the calibrated force sensor and, starting 5 cm from the pivot, apply a perpendiculardownward force until the meter stick is balanced. Remember we must keep the stringperpendicular to the lever arm.• Click start and measure the balancing force required. Record the force required and the length ofthe lever arm in the table provided.• Repeat this process while increasing the distance from the pivot at 5 cm intervals. Record thebalancing force required and the length of the lever arm for each trial.Force (N)Lever arm length (m)0.050.100.150.200.250.300.350.400.45• Minimize MPLI and enter Graphical Analysis to plot a graph of F vs L. Linearize and record theslope and y-intercept.Slope = y-intercept =Analysis:1. Write the specific and general equations for the linear graph, solving for slope.2. Describe what the slope represents. (Consider units)3. Can we compare the value of the slope to any other constant quantities in the experimentalapparatus? (Consider how the “controlled” torque was established).- 58 -