XIV.—On Torsional Oscillations of Wires

Extract

This paper is in continuation of two others, on the same subject, previously communicated to the Society. In the First Paper (Philosophical Magazine, July 1894) it was shown that the formula

where n, a, and b are constants in any one experiment, represents with accuracy the relation between y, the range of oscillation, and x, the number of oscillations which have taken place since torsion was first applied and the wire was left to itself, so that the oscillations gradually diminished. The apparatus employed, and the method of observation used, were identical with those described in the Second Paper above referred to. The wire which was experimented upon was the same as that used on the previous occasions. Its length, as given in the First and Second Papers, was 89·1 cm. A measurement made on the date 19.10.1897, in the course of the last series of experiments described in the present paper, showed that the length had become 89*3 cm. This increase was doubtless due to the fact that the heavy lead oscillator had been left attached to the wire during the whole of the intervening period. On the date given, it was also found that, with the same oscillator as was used in the experiments first described, ten oscillations were performed in 81 seconds, when the range was large, while 79 seconds were occupied when the range was small. This observation verified the result stated in the First Paper, that the period slightly increases as the range increases. It also showed that the wire was practically in the same condition as it was at first, in so far as elastic qualities are concerned; for the corresponding periods were only slightly less in earlier experiments, the difference being largely accounted for by the slight increase of length of the wire.