1.

- Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to investigate the momento of inertia and different
techniques for determining inertia.
2.- Introduction
To calculate inertia, the torque is required
T =r F
(R- distance to center F- Force )
For a point mass, the moment of inertia can be calculated by using the formula
2
(I-inertia r distance with respect to axis m-mass)
I =r m
However, with different objects, there are different formulas to calculate the moment of
inertia.

1
I = ML
12

For a long thin rod with rotation axis through center

where L is the length of the

rod.
For a solid sphere,
For a disc,

2
I = mr 2
5

where R is the radius of the sphere.

1
2
I = mr
2

For a cylindrical shell I =mr 2

There are other ways to calculate the inertia using the spring constant and oscillation time.
Inertia can be calculated using the formula

T =2

l
k

where T is the oscillation period in s, I

is the inertia and K is the spring constant.

To calculate the relative uncertainty of inertia, the standard deviation for each value such as
mass or time also needed.
Standard deviation ---- Formula
The relative uncertainty for inertia can be calculated Inertia = z(x,y) = xayb
Relative uncertainty = when ux is the measurement uncertainty.

3. Experimental setup and measurementprocedure

1st type of measurement: Rotation of a point mass.

A level was used to make sure the tripod base was adjusted horizontally, so that the rotation
axle was vertically oriented. A rod was fixed on the rotation axle. The spiral spring was turned
-90 (counterclockwise) and the force was measured with a spring scale at 3 different
distances from the axis of rotation. The measurements were repeated for an angle of +90
(clockwise). The experiment was repeated with these 3 measurements for angular deflections of
180 , 270 , and 360 .
2nd type of measurement:Measurement of the moment of inertia for different bodies
The mass and the size of the solid cylinder, the hollow cylinder, the sphere and disk were
measured. The fixing plate was mounted on the axle and deflected clockwise by 180 and
then released. The time taken for 10 oscillations was measured using a stopwatch. This was
repeated 3 times. The whole experiment was repeated by placing the hollow cylinder on the
fixing plate, followed by the massive cylinder. After that the fixing plate was removed and
replaced by the disk and sphere. The same measurement procedures followed.
3rd type of measurement:Measurement of the moment of inertia of a rod with weights.
The mass and length of the rod and the mass of the two additional weights was measured. The
rod was fixed to the axle and deflected clockwise by 180 and released. The time taken for 3
oscillations was recorded. The measurements were repeated 3 times. Now the two weights was

placed on opposite sides of the rod with the same distances from the axis. The distance of the
weights to the axis was measured. The measurements for the oscillations were repeated.
Distances were changed and the measurements were repeated. The whole experiments was
repeated with one weight on one side of the rod.
4th type of measurement:Measurement of the moment of inertia for different rotational
axes.
A disk with diametrical holes was given. The distances of each hole to the middle hole were
measured. The size and the mass of the disc were measured as well. The disc was fixed in the
middle of the axis and then deflected clockwise by 180 and released, The time taken for 3
oscillations was measured using a stopwatch. The experiment was repeated with placing the
disc in different hole positions on the axis.
5th type of measurement:Measurement of the arrival time for different rolling objects.
The massive cylinder and cylindrical shell was placed on the same height on an inclined plane and
released simultaneously. The arrival time of both objects at the bottom of the inclined plane was
measured using a stopwatch.

4. Data, analysis and results

1st Measurement
For this part of the experiment we measured different angles at different points along the rod
and used the tubular dynamometer to get the restoring force. The moment was calculated
multiplying the force times the distance.
in

d in m

F in N

M inNm

180

0.10

0.83

0.083

180

0.20

0.42

0.084

180

0.30

0.28

0.084

mean

0.08367

stand. dev.

0.00058

uncertainty

0.00033

360

0.10

1.75

0.175

360

0.20

0.88

0.176

360

0.30

0.60

0.180

mean

0.177

stand. dev.

0.00265

uncertainty

0.00153

540

0.10

2.52

0.252

540

0.20

1.30

0.260

540

0.30

0.83

0.249

mean

0.25367

stand. dev.

0.00569

uncertainty

0.00328

Table 1 angular restoring spring constant

Figure 1 - momentumvs

The slope of the regression line above is the wanted spring constant k. Its value is k=0.027 Nm.
And the uncertainty is u(k)=0.0015Nm.

2nd Measurement
With a tape ruler we measured the circumference of the sphere. By using the circumference
formula ( c=2 r and solving for r, that is

r=

c
) we calculated its radius. The radius of
2

the cylinder and of the hollow cylinder was measured by using a ruler.
The following table shows our results for the different radii:
Radius of the sphere
in m

Radius of the cylinder

in m

Radius 1 of the
hollow cylinder in m

Radius 2 of the
hollow cylinder in m

0.0718

0.0450

0.04300

0.04500

0.0721

0.0445

0.04300

0.04500

0.0723

0.0445

0.04325

0.04525

0.0719

0.0440

0.04275

0.04475

0.0719

0.0445

0.04275

0.04475

Table 2 - radii of the different shaped objects

Evaluation
We used the formulas given to calculate the moment of inertia of the different shaped objects
and its uncertainties. Examples of how we calculated them will follow.

2
I = 1.025 kg(0.072 m)=2.125103 (for the sphere)
5

u( I )= (

4.4721 05 kg
8.944105 m
) +(2
)I =5.285106 kgm
1.025 kg
0.0720 m
Object

m inkg

Sphere

1.025

mean

(for the sphere)

r in m

I inkg*m

0.072

2.125*10-3

stand. Dev.

0.0001

0.0002

1.182*10-5

uncertainty

4.472*10-5

8.944*10-5

5.28*10-6

Table 3 - moment of inertia of a sphere, calculated by its dimensions

Object

m inkg

Cylinder

0.364

mean

r in m

I inkg*m

0.0445

3.604*10-4

stand. Dev.

0.0001

3.536*10-4

5.727*10-6

uncertainty

4.4721*10-5

1.581*10-4

2.561*10-6

r in m

I inkg*m

0.04295

7.769*10-4

Table 4 - moment of inertia of a cylinder, calculated by its dimensions

Object

m inkg

Hollowcylinder

0.402

mean
stand. Dev.

0.0001

2.092*10-4

7.396*10-6

uncertainty

4.472*10-5

9.354*10-5

3.308*10-6

Table 5 - moment of inertia of a hollow cylinder, calculated by its dimensions

3rd Measurement
Then we measured the period time T for the different shaped objects. The following table shows
the results of the period time T.

T of the sphere in s (5
oscillations)

T of the cylinder in s (6
oscillations)

T of the hollow cylinder in s (5

oscillation)

8.62

4.40

5.85

8.75

4.41

5.88

8.75

4.40

6.00

8.67

4.39

5.92

8.69

4.38

5.73

Table 6 - period times of the different shaped objects

Evaluation
Fromtheformula

And solving for the Inertia, we get:

Where T is in seconds and k=0.027 Nm.

The following are again just examples of how we calculated.

8.696 s
0.027 Nm
5
I=
=2.069103
4

u( I )= (2

2.482104 s
0.0015 Nm
) +(
) I =1.292104
8.696 s
0.027 Nm
5

Object

T in s

I inkg*m

mean

8.696

2.069*10-3

stand. Dev.

5.549*10-2

uncertainty

2.482*10-2

1.292*10-4

T in s

I inkg*m

mean

4.396

3.671*10-4

stand. Dev.

1.14*10-2

uncertainty

5.099*10-3

Sphere

Table 7 - moment of inertia of a sphere, calculated by its period time

Object
Cylinder

2.102*10-5

Table 8 - moment of inertia of a cylinder, calculated by its period time, without disc

Object

T in s

I inkg*m

mean

5.876

6.559*10-4

stand. Dev.

9.915*10-2

uncertainty

4.434*10-2

Hollowcylinder

Table 9 - moment of inertia of a hollow cylinder, calculated by its period time

6.698*10-5

The following tables compare the moments of inertia, one calculated by the dimensions and one
calculated by the period times.

Object

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

2.125*10-3

2.069*10-3

uncertainty

5.285*10-6

1.292*10-4

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

3.604*10-4

3.671*10-4

uncertainty

2.561*10-6

2.102*10-5

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

7.769*10-4

6.559*10-4

uncertainty

3.308*10-6

6.698*10-5

Sphere

Table 10 - comparison of moment of inertia of a sphere

Object
Cylinder

Table 11 - comparison of moment of inertia of a cylinder

Object
hollowcylinder

Table 12 - comparison of moment of inertia of a hollow cylinder

4th Measurement
Period times measured with mass at different distances to the center.
T (without
mass) in s

T (m at 10
cm) in s

T (m at 15
cm) in s

T (m at 20
cm) in s

T (m at 30
cm) in s

2.13

3.58

4.57

5.65

8.07

2.32

3.54

4.58

5.67

8.07

2.30

3.54

4.59

5.68

8.07

2.30

3.54

4.57

5.66

8.04

2.33

3.52

4.59

5.66

8.06

mean

2.276

3.544

4.58

5.664

8.062

stand. Dev.

0.0827

0.0219

0.01

0.0114

0.0130

uncertainty

0.0369

0.0098

0.0045

0.0051

0.0058

I (without
mass) in
kg*m

I (m at 10 cm) I (m at 15 cm) I (m at 20 cm) I (m at 30 cm)

in kg*m
in kg*m
in kg*m
in kg*m

1.733*10-4

4.896*10-4

7.977*10-4

1.219*10-3

2.488*10-3

2.056*10-4

4.787*10-4

8.012*10-4

1.228*10-3

2.488*10-3

2.021*10-4

4.787*10-4

8.047*10-4

1.232*10-3

2.488*10-3

2.021*10-4

4.787*10-4

7.977*10-4

1.224*10-3

2.469*10-3

2.014*10-4

4.733*10-4

8.047*10-4

1.224*10-3

2.481*10-3

mean

1.981*10-4

4.798*10-4

8.012*10-4

1.225*10-3

2.483*10-3

stand. Dev.

1.404*10-5

5.946*10-6

3.499*10-6

4.935*10-6

8.024*10-6

uncertainty

6.279*10-6

2.659*10-6

1.565*10-6

2.207*10-6

3.588*10-6

Table 13- period times at different mass positions and different inertia

Magic plot shows us that the slope is 0.0025 kg*m. It means that the inertia grows in a very
small number compared to the square of the distance, and the relation is almost linear as can
be seen on the graph.

5. Conclusions
1st Measurement:
After measuring the force at different distances from the center and different angles we
calculated the momentum, then we plotted the momentum against in radians. From the graph
we could read the slope which is in this case the spring constant k. We also could read the
uncertainty. Those values are:
k=0.027Nm and u(t)=0.0015Nm
2nd and 3rd Measurement

Object

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

2.125*10-3

2.069*10-3

uncertainty

5.285*10-6

1.292*10-4

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

3.604*10-4

3.671*10-4

uncertainty

2.561*10-6

2.102*10-5

I (dimensions)
inkg*m

I (period time) in
kg*m

mean

7.769*10-4

6.559*10-4

uncertainty

3.308*10-6

6.698*10-5

Sphere

Object
Cylinder

Object
hollowcylinder

It can be seen that the moment of inertia calculated using the time periods and the one
calculated using the dimensions are pretty similar, and the differences can be attributed to small
deviations in the measurements due to the methods of measurement, i.e. the type ruler might
have slided giving a margin of 1 mm error. Another possible cause is that we might have
rounded up or down differences of less than 1 mm. On the other side, we tried to be very
accurate measuring the time periods by measuring five or six oscillations and then dividing the
time by the number of oscillations to get an exact result, but even though we might have done
small mistakes letting the chronometer run and then stopping it. So all in all, the small difference
are caused by slight human mistakes in the measurement procedure.
4th Measurement
After measuring the period time of different masses at different distances from the center, we
got as a result different moment of inertias caused by this difference of the distance from the
mass points to the center of the rod. We plotted them against the square of the distance and got
a linear increase and from that can be concluded that the moment of inertia is indeed increasing
in a squared relationship as the distance from the mass point to the center of mass of the object
changes, which make sense because the general formula of the moment of inertia equals the
mass times the radius (in this case distance from the center of the rod to the center of mass of
the weights) squared. It means in simple words that this distance has more influence in the
moment of inertia than the mass itself.