Vibrating cantilever
The following diagram shows a ruler fixed to the edge of a bench so that can be oscilated to give a vibrating cantilever system.
The suggested equation for the period of a
vibrating cantilever (see Figure 1) is:
Period (T) = 2p[ML3/3IE]1/2
The cantilever has length L, moment of
inertia I, mass M and Young modulus E.
You can find a detailed instruction sheet for this experiment at
Vibrating cantilever
Student investigation
This investigation is based on the centre of percussion of an object.
Suspend a metre ruler by hanging it on a matchstick passed through a hole at the 5 cm mark. Now strike the ruler a sharp blow with a hammer two thirds of the way down. What happens to the matchstick?
Now try hitting it at other points.
Find out why this experiment gives the results that it does. How do the results apply to ball games such as rounders, baseball and cricket?
A VERSION IN WORD IS AVAILABLE ON THE SCHOOLPHYSICS USB
