Calculating the Moment of Inertia

SECTION 9-3

297

THE PARALLEL-AXIS THEOREM

We can often simplify the calculation of moments of inertia for various objects by
using the parallel-axis theorem, which relates the moment of inertia about an axis
through the center of mass to the moment of inertia about a second, parallel axis
(Figure 9-10). Let I be the moment of inertia, and let Icm be the moment of inertia
about a parallel axis through the center of mass. In addition, let M be the total mass
of the object and let h be the distance between the two axes. The parallel-axis
theorem states that
I
Icm ! Mh2

cm

Example 9-2 and the Practice Problem following it illustrate a special case of this
theorem with h
a, M
4m, and Icm
4ma2.

F I G U R E 9 - 1 0 An object rotating about

an axis parallel to an axis through the center
of mass and a distance h from it.

Try It Yourself

Applying the Parallel-Axis Theorem

A thin uniform rod of mass M and length L on the x axis (Figure 9-11) has one end at the origin. Using the parallel-axis theorem, find the moment of inertia about the y axis, which is
parallel to the y axis, and through the center of the rod.

y
L
2

PICTURE Here you know that I
13 ML2 about one end (see Example 9-4) and want to find

Icm . Use the parallel-axis theorem with h
12 L.

cm

SOLVE

FIGURE 9-11

Cover the column to the right and try these on your own before looking at the answers.
Steps

Answers

1. Apply the parallel-axis theorem to write I about the end in

terms of Icm .

I
Icm ! Mh2

2. Substitute, using 31 ML2 for Iy , Icm for Iy , and solve for Icm .

Iy
Iy ! M(12 L)2
Icm
Iy " Mh2
13 ML2 " M(12 L)2

1
2
12 ML

CHECK Calculate the moment of inertia by direct integration. This calculation is the same
as the calculation in Example 9-4 except that the integration limits are from " 12 L to ! 12 L. The
result is

I

x 2 dm

cm

9-14
PA R A L L E L- A X I S T H E O R E M

Example 9-5

M
L

!L>2

x 2 dx

"L>2

M 1 3 !L>2
M L3
L3
1


x `
a ! b

ML2
L 3
3L
8
8
12
"L>2

which is the same as the step-2 result.

TAKING IT FURTHER The step-2 result is only 25% of the result gotten in Example 9-4,
where the uniform rod is rotated about an axis through one end.

* PROOF OF THE PARALLEL-AXIS THEOREM

To prove the parallel-axis theorem, we start with an object (Figure 9-12) that is rotating about a fixed axis, one that does not pass through the center of mass. The kinetic energy K of such an object is given by 12 Iv2 (Equation 9-12), where I is the moment of inertia about the fixed axis. We saw in Chapter 8 (Equation 8-7) that the kinetic energy of a system can be written as the sum of its translational kinetic energy (21 Mv2cm) and the kinetic energy relative to the center of mass. For an object
that is rotating, the kinetic energy relative to its center of mass is 21 Icmv2, where Icm

cm
vcm
h

vcm = h

FIGURE 9-12