Unit 4 MOMENT OF INERTIA

4.1 Introduction
In the rotational motion of a particle or a system of particles the moment of inertia is equivalent
to the mass in the linear motion. However, the mass of a body remains the same but moment of
inertia will depend on the axis of rotation. It is therefore important to know how to evaluate the
moment of inertia of a given system.
4.2 Intended learning outcomes
By the end of this topic, you should be able to;
 Determine the moment of inertia for; a circular ring, circular disc, hollow sphere,
solid sphere, rectangular lamina
 Determine the moment of inertia of a rigid body about an axis parallel to the center of
mass
 Determine the moment of inertia of a rigid body about an axis perpendicular to the
center of mass

4.3 Content
 Moment of inertia of a single particle
 Moment of inertia of a continuous mass distribution
 Parallel axis theorem
 Perpendicular axis theorem

4.4 Moment of inertia of a single particle

When a particle rotates along a circular path, its rotational inertia is represented by a rotational
parameter – moment of inertia (similar to mass in linear motion)
It’s a scalar quantity denoted I.
Consider a particle of mass m, rotating along a circle of radius r. that is, it is at a distance r from
an axis AB as is shown in figure 4.1
 A

r m

B
Figure 4.1 A particle of mass m at a distance r from axis AB
The moment of inertia of the particle about the axis AB is defined as
I = mr 2 (4.1)
where r is the perpendicular distance from the particle to the axis. For a system of particles, the
total moment of inertia is
I = ∑ I i=∑ mi r i2 (4.2)

The moment of inertia of a continuous distribution of mass such as a solid rigid body is given by
I = ∫ r dm
2
(4.3)
where r is the distance of the element of mass dm from the axis of rotation.
If M = ∑ mi ,total mass of the system, then for a rigid body rotation, the moment of inertia

I = ∑ mi r i2 = M. K 2 (4.4)
Where K (another rotational parameter) is the radius of gyration

K=
I
M√=
√ ∑ mi r i2
∑ mi
(4.5)

Radius of gyration for a rigid body rotation is defined by the normal distance of an imaginary
point form axis of rotation, when the total mass of the system is supposed to be concentrated
there [the normal distance from the axis of rotation to the center of mass]
4.5 Moment of inertia of continuous distribution of mass

Circular disc
Take a circular disk of mass m, and radius a, rotating about an axis passing through the center of
it and is normal to the plane of the disc

Fig 4.2 A uniform disc rotating about an axis AB

Let the mass and radius of the disc be ‘m’ and ‘a’ respectively. The mass per unit area of the disc
M
σ= 2 .
πa
The disc can be divided to a large number of co- axial circular rings one of which has radius r
and width dr. If dm is the mass of this elementary disc, then
dm = 2 πrdr . σ
the moment of inertia of the elementary ring about the said axis
dI = dm. r 2= 2 πrdr . σ . r 2=2 πdr . σ . r 3
Moment of inertia for the whole disc about the axis passing through its center and normal to its
plane

|
a 4 a 4 4
a M a 1
I = ∫ dI =∫ 2 π σ r dr = 2 π . σ . r
3 2
= 2π .σ = 2 π . . = . ma (4.6)
0 4 0 4 πa
2
4 2

It should be noted that the expression for the moment of inertia of a solid cylinder about its axis
is the same as that for the disc.
Rectangular plate
Find the moment of inertia of a uniform rectangular plate with sides a and b about a side
y

a dx
dy

b x
Fig, 4.3 A rectangular plate with sides a and b
Solution
Let the rectangular plate be rotated about the side b i.e. the x-axis. Take an element of the plate
with sides dx and dy and positioned at coordinates (x, y)
M M
Mass per unit area σ = and mass of the element dm = dx dy
ab ab
M 2
Moment of inertia of the element about the x axis I e = y dxdy
ab
a b
M 2
For the whole plate, I = ∫ ∫ y dxdy
0 0 ab

[ ]
a b
M
=∫
2
x y dy
0 ab 0

1 2
= 3Ma (4.7)

Circular ring
Consider a ring of radius ‘R’ and mass ‘m’ rotating about a axis passing through its center and
perpendicular to the plane of the circle,
 m
Let λ= , be mass per unit length
2 πa
Mass dm of a small elementary segment
dm = λdl
For a small elementary segment dx, having mass dm, the moment of inertia
dI = dm. R2
For the whole ring,

I = ∫ dI =∫ dm. R = λ R ∫ dl = λ R2 l|20 π =m R 2
2 2
(4.8)
E-tivity 4.1
Obtain expressions for the moment of inertia for; hollow sphere, solid sphere.
2 2 2 2
[Hollow sphere I = m a ,Solid sphere I = m a ]
3 5

Reference

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWKUwT3jt7A
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-cKqrbuaa8