PASCO ME-9502 Statics System - Manual (Page 40)

S t a t i c s S y s t e m E x p . 6 : T o r q u e — N o n - P a r a l l e l F o r c e s
®
36 012-12876B
Set Up the Torque Wheel
Remove the Balance Arm and set up the
Torque Wheel on the Statics Board as shown
in the diagram. Use pulleys, thread, and hang-
ing masses to apply three torques to the wheel.
Use the radial scale on the Torque Wheel label
to measure the perpendicular distance from
each line of force to the pivot point. Record
the distances in the data table. Calculate and
record the forces. Calculate and record the
torque for each force using
= F d

. Be sure
to indicate whether the torque is clockwise or
counterclockwise.
Subtract the sum of the clockwise torques
from the sum of the counterclockwise torques
to determine the total net torque.
Data Table
Total Torque = ________________
Question
Within the limits of your experimental error, is the total net torque equal to zero when the Torque Wheel is in equi-
librium.
Extension
Repeat the procedure with different forces and angles.
Force, F (N) Perpendicular Distance, d  (m) Torque,
= F d
 (N•m)
1
2
3
F
1
F
2
F
3
d
1 
d
2 
d
3 
Pivot
point
Torque
Indicator
Arm
Figure 6.6: Set up the Torque Wheel
Torque
Wheel
Radial
scale