ABSTRACT

The objective of this Trifiliar Suspension experiment is to acquire the value of

moment of inertia of a cylindrical plate through the system (Trifilar Suspension),
hence determining the accuracy of the results by comparing it to the theoretical value;
and to observe how different lengths of threads used in the system can affect the
period of oscillation of the cylindrical plate.

Theoretically, the finding suggests that the period of oscillation increases as the length
of the thread increases therefore both factors are proportional to each other.

The period of oscillation was acquired using a stopwatch by observing the oscillation
of the cylindrical plate and used to generate the moment of inertia of the cylindrical
plate by applying appropriate derived formulas

Through the calculations, it is agreed that the period of oscillation is linearly

proportional to the moment of inertia of the cylindrical plate thereafter showing that
the longer of period of oscillation, the higher the moment of inertia of the cylindrical
plate.

Theoretical values and experimental values were compared accordingly and

corresponded to each other. The experiment was successful.

Introduction

Mass moment of inertia is defined as the resistance towards the rotational movement
of a body. Mass distribution of a body is a key to define the mass moment of inertia.
Torque is known as a force that is to resist the movement of the body. Hence, torque is
related to moment of inertia as to the latter determines how much torque is needed to
resist the bodys direction.
The examples of moment of inertia that is relevant to lifes activities are as follows:
1)

Figure 1
A diver experiences moment of inertia while diving in a rotational movement. The
angular momentum can be increased by pulling her legs towards her body. Her
moment of inertia will be lesser hence allowing a faster spin

2)

Figure 2
By drawing or extending their arms, skaters can speed up or slow down. In both cases,
skaters angular momentum will be affected hence affecting also their moment of
inertia.

3)

Figure 3
A body with lower mass distribution will have a lower moment of inertia. In
Figure 3, if the green hollow spherical body is compared to the solid red
spherical body which both have same mass and radius, the solid ball will
accelerate faster because of its lower mass distribution which makes it has a
lower moment of inertia.

THEORY

Theoretical equation of mass moment of inertia for hollow cylinder (circular tube).
The general equation of inertia:
I =mr

Where;
I = inertia about the mass centre
m = mass
r = radius
Moment of inertia can be obtained by integrating the equation above. Therefore,

dm
V

Where;
=density of circular tube
dm = mass of the circular tube
V = volume of circular tube

Volume of cylinder can be obtained by;

V =2 r dr h
Where;
dr = shell thickness of circular tube
h = height of cylinder
Substituting this equation to the previous equation:

dm
2 r dr h

dm= 2 r dr h

routside (ro)
- rinside (ri)
- dr

The picture above shows hollow cylinder with label ro , ri , dr

Substituting,
2

I = r dm
ro
2

I = r 2 r dr h
ri

 , 2 ,h

Bring out constants

from integral,

ro
3

I = 2 h r dr
ri

r r i
2 h o
4

4
( o 4r i )
2

I = h

Volume of cylinder,
V =h r o2h r i2
r

( o 2r i2)

m=V
r

2
( o 2r i )

Since

( o 2r i2)(r o2+ r i2)

4
4
r o r i =
r

( o 2r i2)(r o2+ r i2)

2

I = h
1
I =m (r o2+ r i2)
2

Therefore mass moment of inertia for hollow cylinder (circular tube);

1
2
2
I tube =m (r o +r i )
2

where;
Itube = moment of inertia for circular tube
m = mass of circular tube
ro = outside radius of circular tube
ri = inside radius of circular tube

Experimental equation of mass moment of inertia for hollow cylinder (circular tube).

Figure 2

From the figure 2 above,

radius.

sin =

x
R

2
2
t

is the angle between the tangential reference line and

Equating the equations

x F
sin = =
L mg
F=

mgx
L

Substituting the equation into Torque equation,

FR=I
mgx
2
R=I ( 2 )
L
t

( )

x=R ,

2
t2

mg R2
2
=I ( 2 )
L
t

can be derived by differentiation as below,

= sin t

= cos t
t
2

= 2 sin t
2
t

Then, substitute all the values in this equation,

mg R2 sin t
=I ( 2 sin t )
L
I 2=

2 =

mg R2
L

mg R2
IL

mg R2
IL

Compare the equation above with equation below,

=

2
T

Thus,

mg R2 2
=
IL
T

mg R2 2
=
IL
T

( )

mg R2 4 2
= 2
IL
T
Rearranging the equation above, mass moment of inertia can be acquired,
m g R2 ( 2 )
I tube =
T
2
4 L

Where;
m = mass of circular tube
g = gravitational constant
R = radius of rotation
L = length of thread
T = period of 20 oscillation

EQUIPMENT

Threa
d

Figure 1
Hollow cylinder, 4kg

Figure 1 shows the experiment setup in the laboratory showing trifiliar suspension
system. The mass of hollow cylinder is 4 kg while the thread can be manipulated up
to 2000 mm.

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows a bubble level. The use of bubble level ensures that the hollow
cylinder is close to horizontal (180) by putting the bubble level on the hollow
cylinder and making sure the bubble is at the centre.

PROCEDURE

Experiment equipment was set up.

Three threads which each measures 1 meter was used to suspend a hollow

cylindrical plate with mass 4 kg.

The plate was leveled and balanced using a bubble level.
The plate was applied with a torsional force by rotating it 180 degrees from

the original position.

As the plate is released, stopwatch is started.
The time taken for 20 complete oscillations was recorded.
To get the most precise measurement, the reading was repeated 5 times.
The experiment was repeated by using different lengths of threads.
For each length of threads, period of oscillation was calculated.
The data was recorded and tabulated.
A graph of length of thread against time was plotted.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Period of 20

Time taken for 20 oscillations, Ti20 (s)

Length of

Ti20

Mean value,
oscillations,

thread (m)

(s)
t1

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2

t2
59.90
51.53
43.45
33.88
22.19

Ti20/I (s)

t3
59.38
51.31
43.23
33.81
22.06

60.62
51.48
43.30
33.77
22.10

179.9
154.32
129.98
101.46
66.35

59.67
51.44
43.32
33.82
22.12

Ti20/20 (s)
3.0
2.6
2.2
1.7
1.1

Graph of period for 20 oscillations (1/s) against length of thread (m)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.1

Graph 1

Graph 1 shows period for 20 oscillations (1/s) against length of thread (m). From the
graph, we can conclude that the time taken for 20 oscillations linearly increases as the
length of thread increases.
Experimental Data:

Mass of hollow cylinder, m = 4 kg

Outside radius of hollow cylinder, ro = 0.08 m

Inside radius of hollow cylinder, ri = 0.05 m
Radius of rotation, R = 0.065 m
Gravitational constant, g = 9.81 m2s-1
Length of thread, L = 1.0 m, 0.8 m, 0.5 m

Theoretical moment of inertia:

1
I tube =m (r o 2+r i2 )
2
1
( 4)( )( ( 0.082 +0.052 ) )
2
2(8.9 103 )
0.0178 kg m

Experimental moment of inertia:

I tube =

m g R2 ( 2 )
T
2
4 L

Length of thread
1.0 m:

( 4 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 0.0652 )
2

( 4 ) ( ) ( 1.0 )

(2.992)

0.166
( 9)
39.5

0.0375 kg m2

0.8 m :

( 4 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 0.0652 )
2

( 4 ) ( ) ( 0.8 )
0.166
( 6.76 )
31.58

0.0347 kg m

(2.572 )

0.6 m:

( 4 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 0.0652 )
2

( 4 ) ( ) ( 0.6 )

(2.02 )

0.166
(4 )
23.69

0.0280 kg m2

As we compare the theoretical mass moment of inertia with experimental mass

moment of inertia for every length, there was a slight difference in their values.

Percentage of error=

Experimental valueTheoretical value

100
Theoretical value

Length:
1.0 m

error =

0.03750.0178
100
0.0178

110.67

0.8 m

error =

0.03470.0178
100
0.0178

94.94

0.6 m

error =

0.03360.0178
100
0.0178

88.76
The error that might occur in this experiment is the way the hollow cylinder
positioned while it was rotating. It might not be perfectly positioned horizontally
hence affecting the length of the thread.
A way to improve the error is by using the bubble level to make sure the hollow
cylinder is balanced on all sides that is attached to thread.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, mass moment of inertia of a rigid body can be calculated using the
trifiliar suspension system with the appropriate application of derived formula.
Through surgical comparison between both theoretical and experimental values and
results, it is observed that the outcome is the similar therefore implying that the
theoretical results can be introduced as a mean to acquire approximate values in
engineering design.

REFERENCES

Rhett Allain (November 2012.), Olympic Physics: Diving And The Moment of
Inertia, [online], available:
http://www.wired.com/2012/08/diving-and-the-moment-ofinertia/

[accessed 20 November, 2015]

The Engineering Toolbox (n.d.), Moment of Inertia, [online], available:

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html
[accessed 20 November, 2015]

Samuel Hokin (n.d.), Figure Skating Spins, [online], available:

http://www.bsharp.org/physics/spins
[accessed 20 November, 2015]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Georgia State University (n.d.), Parallel Axis Theorem, [online], available:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ihoop.html
[accessed 20 November, 2015].

Georgia State University (n.d.), Moment of Inertia: Cylinder About Perpendicular

Axis, [online], available:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/icyl.html#icyl3
[accessed 20 November, 2015]