Moment of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
The total moment of inertia is due to the sum of masses at a distance from the axis of rotation.
I mi ri 2
i 1
Two Spheres
Mass at a Radius
Extended objects can be treated as a sum of small masses. A straight rod (M) is a set of identical masses Dm.
distance r to r+Dr
length L axis
I ( M / L) r 2 dr
0
I ( M / L)(L3 / 3) (1 / 3) ML2
The point mass, ring and hollow cylinder all have the same moment of inertia.
I = MR2
The rod and rectangular plate also have the same moment of inertia.
I = (1/3) MR2
Playground Ride
A child of 180 N sits at the edge of a merry-go-round with radius 2.0 m and mass 160 kg. What is the moment of inertia, including the child?
m r M
Some objects dont rotate about the axis at the center of mass. The moment of inertia depends on the distance between axes.
M axis
I I CM Mh 2
(1 / 3) MR 2 I CM M ( R / 2) 2 I CM (1 / 3) MR 2 (1 / 4) MR 2 I CM (1 / 12 ) MR 2
Iy = (1/12) Ma2
Ix = (1/12) Mb2 M a
For flat objects the rotational moment of inertia of the axes in the plane is related to the moment of inertia perpendicular to the plane.
Iz Ix Iy
Spinning Coin
What is the moment of inertia of a coin of mass M and radius R spinning on one edge?
R
Id
The disk has two equal axes in the plane. The perpendicular axis theorem links these.
Id = Ie + Ie = (1/2) MR2 Ie = (1/4) MR2
Ie
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