7.2 - Moment of Inertia

AP Physics C Mechanics
Published

December 8, 2017

Types of Inertia • Inertial mass / translational inertia (M) is an object’s ability to resist a linear acceleration • Moment of Inertia / rotational inertia (I) is an object’s resistance to a rational acceleration • Objects that have most of their mass near their axis of rotation have smaller rotational inertias than objects with more mass farther from their axis of rotation Kinetic Energy of a Rotating Disc Calculating Moment of Inertia (I) • I=∑▒〖mr^2 〗=∫▒〖r^2 dm〗 Example 1: Point Masses • Find the moment of inertia (I) of two 5-kg bowling balls joined by a meter-long rod of negligible mass when rotated about the center of the rod. • Compare this to the moment of inertia of the object when rotated about one of the mass Example 2: Uniform Rod • Find the moment of inertia of a uniform rod about its end and about its center Example 3: Solid Cylinder • Find the moment of inertia of a uniform solid cylinder about its axis Parallel Axis Theorem (PAT) • If the moment of inertia (I) of any object through an axis intersecting the center of mass of the object is l, you can find the moment of inertia around any axis parallel to the current axis of rotation (l’) Example 4: Calculating I Using PAT • Find the moment of inertia of a uniform rod about its end Example 5: Hollow Sphere • Calculate the moment of inertia of a hollow sphere with a mass of 10 kg and a radius of 0.2 meter Example 6: Adjusting Moment of Inertia • A uniform rod of length L has moment of inertia I0 when rotated about its midpoint. • A sphere of mass M is added to each end of the rod. • What is the new moment of inertia of the rod/ball system?