Moment of Inertia for a Sphere with Lead Coating

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the moment of inertia for a sphere composed of a solid wooden core and a thin lead coating. The original poster presents the problem, including the densities and dimensions of the materials involved, and seeks clarification on their approach to finding the moment of inertia about an axis through the center of the sphere.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster outlines their method for calculating the moment of inertia, questioning whether using density and area density to find mass is valid. Other participants discuss the components of the moment of inertia for both the wooden sphere and the lead shell, with one participant providing specific equations and calculations.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the method for calculating the moment of inertia and the components involved. Some participants express confusion regarding the terminology and concepts, while others provide mathematical expressions relevant to the problem. There is no clear consensus, but various interpretations and approaches are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of the problem as presented, including the specific densities and dimensions. There is some ambiguity in the terminology used, particularly regarding the definition of a "solid sphere." Additionally, the nature of the lead coating and its contribution to the overall moment of inertia is under discussion.

MAPgirl23
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A sphere consists of a solid wooden ball of uniform density 800 kg/m^3 and radius 0.20 m and is covered with a thin coating of lead foil with area density 20 kg/m^2.

How do I calculate the moment of inertia of this sphere about an axis passing through its center?

** The equation I'm using for the solid sphere is I = 2/5 * M * R^2
Here again I know the mass of the inner sphere is the density times the volume of the sphere. They gave me the area density for the layer of lead, so you can find the mass of the lead using the area density times the surface area of the sphere. By definition of moment of inertia, the total moment of inertia of the sphere is the sum of the moment of inertia of the solid wood part, plus the moment of inertia of the lead shell. Is this method wrong? Do you not get the moment of density this way without being given mass but instead given density?
Please help.
 
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MAPgirl23 said:
A sphere consists of a solid wooden ball of uniform density 800 kg/m^3 and radius 0.20 m and is covered with a thin coating of lead foil with area density 20 kg/m^2.

How do I calculate the moment of inertia of this sphere about an axis passing through its center?

** The equation I'm using for the solid sphere is I = 2/5 * M * R^2
Here again I know the mass of the inner sphere is the density times the volume of the sphere. They gave me the area density for the layer of lead, so you can find the mass of the lead using the area density times the surface area of the sphere. By definition of moment of inertia, the total moment of inertia of the sphere is the sum of the moment of inertia of the solid wood part, plus the moment of inertia of the lead shell. Is this method wrong?
No, this is a correct method.
Do you not get the moment of density this way without being given mass but instead given density?
I'm sorry, I don't understand your question.
 
The answer= MI of wooden solid sphere+ MI of lead shell
 
volume of sphere: 4/3 * pi * r^3
surface area sphere: 4 * pi *r^2

mass of lead: 20 * (4 * pi * 0.2^2) = 10 kg
mass of sphere: 800 * (4 * pi * 0.2^2) = 26.8 kg

I solid sphere: 2/5 * 26.8 * 0.2^2 = 0.429
I lead shell: what do I use?
 
MAPgirl23 said:
I lead shell: what do I use?

[tex]I = \frac{2}{3}MR^2[/tex]
 
Incidentally,the sphere has zero volume and its moment of inertia wrt an axis passing through its center is given in post #5.

BTW,what do you mean by solid sphere,is it a special sphere,i dunno,similar to a plasma or liquid one...?

Daniel.
 
:rolleyes:.
 

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