Moment of Inertia

Moment of Inertia Defined

The moment of inertia measures the resistance to a change in rotation.

Change in rotation from torque Moment of inertia I = mr2 for a single mass

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

A spun baton has a moment of inertia due to each separate mass.

I = mr2 + mr2 = 2mr2

If it spins around one end, only the far mass counts.

I = m(2r)2 = 4mr2

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

The total moment of inertia is

I (Dm)r
2

Each mass element contributes Dm ( M / L)Dr

I ( M / L) r 2 Dr The sum becomes an integral

length L axis

I ( M / L) r 2 dr
0

I ( M / L)(L3 / 3) (1 / 3) ML2

Rigid Body Rotation

The moments of inertia for many shapes can found by integration.

Ring or hollow cylinder: I = MR2 Solid cylinder: I = (1/2) MR2 Hollow sphere: I = (2/3) MR2 Solid sphere: I = (2/5) MR2

Point and Ring

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

All the mass is equally far away from the axis.

R M R M

The distribution of mass from the axis is the same.

M
M length R axis length R

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?

Assume the merry-go-round is a disk.

Id = (1/2)Mr2 = 320 kg m2

Treat the child as a point mass.

W = mg, m = W/g = 18 kg. Ic = mr2 = 72 kg m2

m r M

The total moment of inertia is the sum.

I = Id + Ic = 390 kg m2

Parallel Axis Theorem

Some objects dont rotate about the axis at the center of mass. The moment of inertia depends on the distance between axes.

The moment of inertia for a rod about its center of mass:

h = R/2

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

Perpendicular Axis Theorem

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

Iz = (1/12) M(a2 + b2)

Spinning Coin

What is the moment of inertia of a coin of mass M and radius R spinning on one edge?

The moment of inertia of a spinning disk perpendicular to the plane is known.

Id = (1/2) MR2

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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