To Determine The Thickness Of A Given Glass Plate By Using A Spherometer And Hence Find Its Volume And Density.

4 Min Read

APPARATUS REQUIRED

i) Spherometer

ii) A thin glass plate

iii) A base plate

iv) A graph paper

v) A weighing machine

THEORY

Principle of Spherometer

It works on the principle of screw. It states that the rotation of the circular scale is directly proportional to the linear distance moved by its screw.

Pitch: It is the vertical linear distance moved by the central screw in one complete rotation of the circular scale.

Least Count

It is the smallest value that an instrument can measure accurately. The least count of a spherometer is the distance traveled by the spherometer screw when it is rotated through one circular scale division.

If p is the pitch of the total number of circular dimensions, then least count is given by,

least count = Pitch (p) / vo. of division or circular scale (N)

Volume and density

Let t is the thickness of the glass plate and A is the area. The volume of the glass plate is.

V= AXE

If m is the mass of the plate, then its density is given by, P= M/v

OBSERVATIONS

For least count:

Value of 10 main scale divisions = 10mm

Value of 1 main scale division = 1mm

No of circular scale division (N) = 100.

In complete rotations, the screw advances through 5 main sale divisions

Pitch:

linear distance traveled by the screw in 1 complete rotation

            P= msd

              = mm

       L.C.= P/N  = 0.01 mm

Mass of the given plate (m)= 6.01gm

Table= 1 For thickness of the regular thin glass plate

No. obsInitial circular scale recordingNo. of complete rotationFinal circular scale readingAdditional circular scale Value of complete rotationValue of additional C.S recordingtotal t=(ef)mmMean thickness = t mm
1854978840.884.88
2100439740.974.974.806
304406040.604.60
4904108040.804.80
59541009540.954.97

Glass plate is turning over 

6854988740.874.87
7964999740.974.97
8894216840.684.68
9104149640.964.96
10334953840.84.38

Table =2 : Calculation of area.

No. of obs(x)No. of complete small square(y)No.of incomplete square Total (x+y)Area of glass plate a=(x+y)xvalue of small Mean area of glass plate (A) 
a)131023575612.5
b)41226650

Calculation

Mear thickness of glass plate (t) = 4.806 mm = 0.48km

Mean area of glass plate (N) = 612.5mm² = 6.125mm²

Volume of glass plate (V) = Axt

             = 612.5×0.48 = 2.94cm³

Density of glass plate= m/v = 5.9/2.94 = 2.006g/cm³

Percentage error = (Ps-Pa / Ps )x 100% = 19.76%

RESULT

Experimentally, the thickness, area, volume and density of the given small glass plate is found to be 0.48cm, 6.125cm², 2.94cm³ and 2.006 g/cm ³ by using spherometer and graph papers.

CONCLUSION 

The density of a given plate with its thickness and area are determined using a spherometer and graph paper.

PRECAUTIONS

1. When lowering the central screw, the screw road should be rotated in only one direction otherwise back error with occur.

2. When readings are noted, the legs of the spherometer should touch the relevant surface.

3. The glass plate should be held while drawing its cutline with a sharp pencil.

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