Magnetic Oscillation

Andrew Hu

IA Practical
[DCP&CE]

Aim: To investigate the relationship between the length of metal wire (l) and the tension of the string (T) whilst it oscillates at its fundamental frequency in a magnetic field by finding the frequency of the mains

Theory suggests that the relationship between length (l) of the metal wire and the tension (T) is governed by the equation:

l=

1 2f

Where f = frequency of the mains and = mass per unit length of the wire. Raw Data Length of the string oscillating at Fundamental Frequency (mm) (1mm) Mass (g) (0.5g) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average 20.0 263 263 264 263 40.0 372 374 374 373 60.0 453 454 455 454 80.0 486 487 489 487 100.0 555 560 565 560 120.0 638 639 648 642 Mass for 50cm of the metal wiring used: 0.15g (.005g) Note: Error for mass of weights is estimated by taking the manufacturers stated error. Error for length of metal wiring is estimated by taking the smallest unit of measurement. This is not divided by two as there is error associated with both ends of the ruler when measuring. Qualitative observation: Amplitude of the wire varied periodically even with the length of the wire staying constant.

Processed Data Length of the string (m) Uncertainty Percentage Length Percentage (.0001m) Mass (kg) in length Uncertainty in Squared Uncertainty in (.0005kg) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average (m) Length (%) (m2) Length Squared (%) 0.0200 0.263 0.263 0.264 0.263 0.001 0.19 0.069 0.38 0.0400 0.372 0.374 0.374 0.373 0.001 0.27 0.139 0.54 0.0600 0.453 0.454 0.455 0.454 0.001 0.22 0.206 0.44 0.0800 0.486 0.487 0.489 0.487 0.002 0.31 0.238 0.62 0.1000 0.555 0.560 0.565 0.560 0.005 0.89 0.314 1.79 0.1200 0.638 0.639 0.648 0.642 0.005 0.78 0.412 1.56 -1 -5 Mass per unit length: 0.0003 kgm ( 110 kg) Sample calculations for Processed Data Note: All calculations are made for the first set of data. Mass Converted from mass in grams to mass in kilograms by dividing value by 1000.

Length of string Converted from millimeters to meters by dividing value by 1000.

Average Calculated by averaging the trials.

Uncertainty in Length Calculated by dividing the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value by 2.

Percentage Uncertainty of Length Calculated by calculating the percentage of uncertainty to the length.

Length Squared Calculated by squaring the Length.

1000 20 M= 1000 M = 0.0200 kg l l = mm 1000 263 l= 1000 l = .263m l +l +l lAv = 1 2 3 3 0.263 + 0.263 + 0.264 lAv = 3 lAv = 0.263m l -l luncert = max min 2 0.2640 - 0.2630 luncert = 2 luncert = 0.0005 m luncert = 0.001m (Rounded because of precision) l l%uncert = uncert 100 l 0.001 l%uncert = 100 0.2633 l%uncert = 0.19% lsquared = l 2

M=

Mg

lsquared = (0.2633)2 lsquared = 0.069

Percentage uncertainty of Length l 2 uncert = (luncert )2 Squared Calculated by doubling the l 2 uncert = (0.19%)2 percentage uncertainty of Length l 2 uncert = 0.38% Squared. Mass per unit length and its associated uncertainty Calculated by doubling the value (as length is 50cm) and converting it into kgm-1.

Presenting Processed Data Note: Error bars are drawn on the graph but are small and hard to see because of its small value. As this experiment is conducted very precisely there should be little systematic error in the collected data. However the Graph 1 shows that there may be random error associated with the experiment that have caused oddball data. Thus two sets of calculations will be carried out in this investigation for two reasons: - The oddball data in graph 1 can affect the end result for the frequency of the mains. - Defining a relationship between two variables by using only four points is inaccurate. Thus Graph 2 has the oddball data removed as compared to Graph 1. Graph 1 2 Line of best fit: T = 3.237 m + 0.003000 2 Line of min fit: T = 3.357 m + 0.002000 2 Line of max fit: T = 3.494 m - 0.001000 Uncertainty in trend line gradient

GradientUncert = GradientUncert

GradientUncert

Gradientmax - Gradient min 2 3.494 - 3.357 = 2 = 0.0685 m2 kg-1

Thus Gradient is 3.237 m2kg-1 0.0685 m2kg-1 Graph 2 2 Line of best fit: T = 3.418 m + 0.001532 2 Line of min fit: T = 3.357 m + 0.002000 2 Line of max fit: T = 3.494 m - 0.001000 Uncertainty in trend line gradient

GradientUncert =
GradientUncert

GradientUncert

Gradientmax - Gradient min 2 3.494 - 3.357 = 2 = 0.0685 m2 kg-1

Thus Gradient is 3.418 m2kg-1 0.0685 m2kg-1

Conclusion My graphs indicate that the squared length of the wiring that oscillates in the magnetic field is proportional to the amount of tension on the wire. The equations for the relationships are: Graph 1: T = 3.237 m + 0.003000 2 Graph 2: T = 3.418 m + 0.001532
2

This can be compared to the equation

g m with the equation T = mg 4 f 2m m g Thus the gradient of the equations equate to 4 f 2m

l=

1 2f

2 which can be rearranged to l =

In order to find the frequency of the mains in New Zealand

grad =
Graph 1

g 4 f 2m

is rearranged to

f=

g ( grad )4 m
Uncertainty calculated by adding the percentage uncertainty of the gradient to the percentage uncertainty of the mass per unit length, then halved because of the square root term.

f= f=

g ( grad )4 m 9.79936 (3.237)(4)(0.0003)

f = 50.2 Hz (3sf) (1.37 Hz)

(Uncertainty calculated from percentage uncertainties)

1 10 -5 0.0685 100 + 100 0.0003 3.237 = 2.72% 2

Graph 2

f= f=

g ( grad )4 m 9.79936 (3.418)(4)(0.0003)

Uncertainty calculated by adding the percentage uncertainty of the gradient to the percentage uncertainty of the mass per unit length, then halved because of the square root term.

f = 48.9 Hz (3sf) (1.31 Hz)

(Uncertainty calculated from percentage uncertainties)

1 10 -5 0.0685 100 + 100 0.0003 3.418 = 2.67% 2

Note: Value for gravity is taken from the website (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=gravity+in+auckland+new+zealand) for the gravity in Auckland, New Zealand. g = 9.79936 ms -2

Percentage difference Graph 1 Graph 2

50 - 50.2 100 50 %Difference = 0.4% %Difference =

50 - 48.9 100 50 %Difference = 2.2% %Difference =

Note: Value of frequency of mains is taken from the website (http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm) f = 50 Hz The fact that both calculations with and without the omission of the outliers give values that are within the calculated uncertainties of the mains frequency suggests that the experiment is accurate even with a leeway with the way the experiment is conducted. The percentage differences of calculated values for the frequency of the mains are 0.4% and 2.2% which is very accurate. However it can be seen that there is random error concerned with the outliers in Graph 1 which may have decreased the gradient and also systematic error of 0.003000 and 0.001532 in T2 that has lifted all the results upwards. With the exception of outliers, the data was extremely close to the graph with small error bars meaning the experiment was both accurate and precise. Conclusion 1) A limitation can be the uncertainty in weight or tension as a result of the crocodile clip and the current providing wire.

As seen in the photograph the wire and the crocodile clip are adding more weight to the masses that provide tension to the system. Thus the measurements for mass may appear to be larger than it actually is. This increase in mass may decrease the gradient value and thus as seen in the equation f =

g decrease the value for the frequency of the mains. ( grad )4 m

This systematic error can be seen in Graph 2 values of mass may have been shifted to the left, thus giving a frequency value of 48.9 Hz. This is very significant as the crocodile clip is

considerably heavy being made of metal. This issue can be improved by connecting the thick wiring to another thin piece of wiring that rests lightly on the oscillating wire reducing the uncertainty in mass/tension whilst providing a current. 2) A limitation that may have been the origin of the random error as seen in Graph 1 may be the pulsating of the wire even as the length that is adjusted stays constant. This means that the amplitude changes periodically even as the length is not changed. This may have caused the inaccurate readings of the length where the wire oscillates at the first fundamental frequency. This is a random error that may decrease or increase the value for the mains frequency as the gradient is also subject to decrease or increase. This limitation may be avoided by making sure that the length of wire used is not deformed in any way prior to its use as we observed that there were parts of the wire that have been bent and become out of shape. A thicker and less malleable wire can also be used in the experiment to ensure that the wire is not deformed prior to use. However the experimenter must ensure that the wire is not too thick as to cause issues in terms of not being able to take measurements due to small amplitudes that thicker wires tend to oscillate at. 3) The random error that occurred may also be a case of being unable to observe the amplitude properly because of the fast oscillations of a thin wire. The wire oscillates very fast and appears as a blur to the observer thus making it difficult to judge whether the wire is oscillating at the highest amplitude at the fundamental frequency. This is a random error that may decrease or increase the value for the mains frequency as the gradient is also subject to decrease or increase.

As seen in the photograph above, it is very hard to see the wire due to the color of the background and thus can be solved by wedging a piece of white paper between the magnets. This allows the wire to be seen more clearly thus enabling the experimenter to make more accurate judgments for length. 4) A further factor that could have affected the experiment is the wooden triangular prism that was used to determine the length. As it was made of wood, the multiple trials of adjusting the length of the wire eventually made a small groove where the wire rested on the prism. Thus in some trials we may have accidentally moved the prism forwards and as a

Clamp Pulley Triangular Prism

result caused the wire to bend. This may further become the cause of unwanted components of force affecting the tension of the wire. This will most likely increase the tension in the wire and thus decrease the value for the frequency of the mains due to a decrease in the trend line gradient. This can be avoided by clamping a ruler to the table, parallel to the wire. This allows the experimenter to slide the prism against the ruler and thus minimize the amount of unwanted force perpendicular to the wire.