(--Planning Exercise - Strain gauge Coursework Help!!!!--) Hi ive been stuck for several days in the early stages of my coursework i would have asked my tutor but I have been forced to stay home due to a very bad chest infection I will first provide a full transcript of the question (please view figure 1.1 and 1.2 they are attacthed to this post) before i tell you where i am stuck Fig1.1 illustrates a crane beign used to move a load. As the distance from the load to the control cabin increases, the force in the supporting struts of the metal frame work or the crane increases. It is important to engineers to know how these forces change as the load moves. Please view fig 1.1 One way of investigating the forces in a beam is to attach to it a device known as a strain gauge. A Strain gauge is illustrated in Fig 1.2 Please view Fig 1.2. If the length of the strain gauge is increased, wires in the gauge become longer and thinner, and therefore the electrical resistance of the gauge increases. You are required to design a laboratory experiment to investigate how the electrical resistance of a strain gauge attached to a flat surface depends on the tensile force applied to the surface. You should draw a diagram of the arrangement of your apparatus, and in your account you should pay particular attention to: (a) the procedure followed (b) the material on which the strain gauge is to be mounted and the dimensions of this material * (c) the method of attaching the strain gauge to the material * (d) how the force would be applied (e) the approximate range of forces which you would use (f) how the resistance of the strain gauge would be measured, including the range of any meters used (g) any safety precautions you would take when carrying out the investigation (h) particular features of the desing that would ensure accuracy and reliability of your results. I have put a star next to the ones where i am completely lost (b) the material on which the strain gauge is to be mounted and the dimensions of this material * - I think is reffering to the plastic backing sheet if so what would be the dimensions used for the plastic backing sheet would'nt a larger backing sheet exert more force on the strain gauge. (c) the method of attaching the strain gauge to the material * - would i have to use some form of adhesive/blu tac maybe to attatch the the strain gauge to the sheet. I have come up with a diagram see apparatus.bmp My procedure is simply to move the strain gauge plus weight/load accross the ruler at 0.1m intervals and measure what the resistance is at each of them. Do i need a weight or should i just use the strain gauge and the backing sheet? I plan to measure resistance with a multimeter is that correct? if my diagram is wrong could you please provide another (doesnt have to look good ) Also ive never used a strain gauge in my life could you post a link to a site where i can see what one looks like and how it is used.