moment of inertia Definition and Topics - 154 Discussions

The moment of inertia, otherwise known as the mass moment of inertia, angular mass, second moment of mass, or most accurately, rotational inertia, of a rigid body is a quantity that determines the torque needed for a desired angular acceleration about a rotational axis, akin to how mass determines the force needed for a desired acceleration. It depends on the body's mass distribution and the axis chosen, with larger moments requiring more torque to change the body's rate of rotation.
It is an extensive (additive) property: for a point mass the moment of inertia is simply the mass times the square of the perpendicular distance to the axis of rotation. The moment of inertia of a rigid composite system is the sum of the moments of inertia of its component subsystems (all taken about the same axis). Its simplest definition is the second moment of mass with respect to distance from an axis.
For bodies constrained to rotate in a plane, only their moment of inertia about an axis perpendicular to the plane, a scalar value, matters. For bodies free to rotate in three dimensions, their moments can be described by a symmetric 3 × 3 matrix, with a set of mutually perpendicular principal axes for which this matrix is diagonal and torques around the axes act independently of each other.

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  1. Tapias5000

    How to determine the same moment of inertia in two different ways?

    My solution is now I am asked for the same result but in this form but I don't know where to start.
  2. L

    Disk hit by two masses

    1) By conservation of linear momentum: ##m_1 v_1-m_2v_2=(m+m_1+m_2)v_{cm}\Rightarrow v_{cm}=\frac{m_1}{m+m_1+m_2}v_1-\frac{m_2}{m+m_1+m_2}v_2=\frac{3}{8}\frac{m}{s}##; 2) By conservation of angular momentum: ##-Rm_1v_1-Rm_2v_2=I_{total}\omega=(I_{disk}+m_1R^2+m_2R^2)\omega## so...
  3. L

    Tangential velocity of rotating rod

    1) ##LT\sin(\frac{\pi}{2}-\theta)-\frac{L}{2}mg\sin\theta=0\Rightarrow T=\frac{mg}{2}\tan\theta##. ##N_{x}-T=0, N_{y}-mg=0\Rightarrow N=\sqrt{N_x ^2+N_y ^2}=mg\sqrt{(\frac{\tan\theta}{2})^2 +1}## 2) ##E_{k_{fin}}=mg\frac{L}{2}[1+\cos\theta]## 3)...
  4. Ang09

    Moment of Inertia with varying distance from Centre of Mass

    h = d1 + 0.08 d1 = h - 0.08 d2 = h + 0.08 I of the vertical portion = 1/12 m (l^2 + b^2) + md1^2 = 1/12 m (0.28^2 + 0.04^2) + m(h - 0.08)^2 I of the horizontal portion = 1/12 m (l^2 + b^2) + md2^2 = 1/12 m (0.28^2 + 0.04^2) + m(h + 0.08)^2 The moment of inertia for the whole T-shape about...
  5. P

    Lagrangian mechanics - rotating rod

    Hello, It might sound silly, but when I try to calculate the kinetic energy of a rotating rod to form the Langrangian (and in general), why it has both translational and rotational kinetic energy? Is it because when I consider the moment of Inertia about the centre I need to include the...
    • pj33
    • Thread
    • kinetic energy lagrangian mechanics moment of inertia velocity
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Mechanics
  6. PiEpsilon

    Ball collides with the two rotating discs on a bar -- What is the resulting motion?

    What we know: The ball is dropped at the tip A with some speed ##v_0## and rebounds with speed ##v##. This collision produces an angular impulse, changing the angular momentum of the bar with the flywheels. Solution inspired by an answer provided by @TSny in the similar question. Angular...
  7. TheBigDig

    Determine the moment of inertia of a bar and disk assembly

    I have been given an answer for this but I am struggling to get to that point $$ANS = 0.430\, kg \cdot m^2$$ So I thought using the moment of inertia of a compound pendulum might work where ##I_{rod} = \frac{ml^2}{12}## and ##I_{disc} = \frac{mR^2}{2}## (##l## is the length of the rod and ##R##...
  8. P

    Moment of Inertia of a sphere about an axis

    I = 2/5M R^2 + Md^2 This is analagous to Earth's movement about the Sun. Is the moment of inertia of Earth about the centre of mass of the Earth Sun system = 2/5MR^2 + Md^2, where: M = Mass of earth, R = Radius of Earth, d = distance from earth to centre of mass of earth-sun system.
  9. PiEpsilon

    Freely hinged rods on a table - Linear velocities of CM after the impulse

    We know that impulse is $$\vec J = \vec F \Delta t = \Delta \vec p$$ Let ##l, m## be the length of single rod and its mass respectively. Analyzing torques and forces on each rod separately we have: Rod ##AC##: $$F\Delta t +N_x\Delta t = mV_{ac,x} \space\space\text{ eq. }(1)$$ $$F\Delta t\cdot...
  10. Who_w

    Moment of inertia of a regular triangle

    Please, I need help! I need to calculate the moment of inertia of a triangle relatively OY. I have an idea to split my triangle into rods and use Huygens-Steiner theorem, but after discussed this exercise with my friend, I have a question: which of these splits are right (picture 1 and 2)? Or...
  11. wcjy

    Moment of inertia of a uniform 2D triangular plate

    Answer is 37.8 g cm^2 new to latex
  12. G

    What is a "Torsional Constant"?

    The question was: I will also include the solution: So, what is the justification of the first formula [ω=√(C/I)]? I know how to derive simple harmonic equations, this one as I guess is probably similar? But I cannot connect as to how C is used exactly. And the second formula [ω'=ωβ], I...
  13. N

    T-Shaped Pendulum

    My answer to part A is correct but for Part B I got an incorrect answer of 0.204J. My working out is sent as an attachment. Part A: Part B: Part C:
  14. P

    Minimum force required to rotate a lamina

    When the lamina rotates about A, FA must act on B (because it is the farthest away) perpendicular to AB (so that all of FA contributes to rotation). Same argument is valid for rotation of lamina about B as well. Having noted that, I tried two approaches: Approach 1- If I assume that the...
  15. Y

    Moment of inertia where mass and torque are at a different positions

    The formula for moment of inertia is: I=mr^2 A common derivation for this is: 1. F=ma 2. τ=rma 3. τ=rmrα = r^2 mα This is a rotational version of Newton’s second law, where torque replaces force, moment of inertia replaces mass, and angular acceleration replaces tangential acceleration...
    • ynbo0813
    • Thread
    • moment of inertia rotational dynamics torque
    • Replies: 69
    • Forum: Mechanics
  16. C

    How can I calculate the moment of inertia of any object?

    Apologies if I make anyone frustrated. To start, I've only had up to Calculus II so far but I was curious how to use and evaluate integrals used for moment of inertia. I know that the moment of inertia is basically an object's resistance to rotation, and is the rotational analog of mass. I know...
  17. A

    Stabilizer Leg Linear Actuator Force to Jack up a Truck's rear tyres

    Hi, I previously posted about the statically indeterminate truck problem. Thank you to everyone who helped me. However, I now realised that isn't the problem I need to solve. I need to know the force of the linear actuators to lift the rear tyres off the ground. Since the tyres will be...
  18. C

    About the Moment of Inertia

    Hello, I am a computer science major and Ex-Biology grad student, my knowledge in physics is humble, but I got a little curious when my professor derived the expressions of moment of inertia for different objects. The moment of Inertia of a thin disk is 1/2MR2, but it is the same as the moment...
    • Cha0t1c
    • Thread
    • mechanics moment of inertia rotation
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Mechanics
  19. O

    Analytical mathematical modeling of the torque caused by the laundry

    Hello my dear physicists, I'm trying to model the varied generated (needed)Torque to rotate a washing machine Drum during a Washing Process so i assumed that the Model has as Input the target vilocity and as an Output the new needed torque to rotate the Drum(to be as a input for the motor...
  20. L

    Calculate the moment of inertia of this body

    I use the moment of inertia I = 1/12ml2 for an axis perpendicular and passing through the center of mass of a rod. In a cube built out of 12 rods I have 8 rods at a perpendicular distance l/2 from the axis through the midpoint of a cube. These 8 rods contribute the moment of inertia I1 =...
  21. CanFan

    B What sort of can would roll the fastest?

    Hello, I'm new here so apologies if this is in the wrong place! I was wondering, hypothetically, what sort of canned food would roll the fastest (assuming the ramp remained constant and the can couldn't be altered)? I've been looking this up and I know a solid can would roll faster than an...
  22. A

    Torque on a circular disk

    moment of inertia= [(1/2)(1.1kg)(0.96)^2+ (1.1kg) (0.75*0.96)^2]= 1.08 kg*m^2 θ=9.8 degrees= 0.17 rad torque= (mass*gravity) * radius * sin(theta) radius= 0.17rad * 0.96m = 0.16m torque= (1.1kg*9.8m/s^2) * 0.16m * sin(0.17rad) = 0.29 N*m torque = inertia * angular acceleration 0.29N*m=...
  23. dlxgains

    Moment of inertia project help- experiment 1: Bifiler Rod

    Homework Statement: So i need to find equations to help me with a bifiler suspension experiment in which i will use a rectangular drop bar as the oscillating object, also any help with the method of this experiment would be greatly appreciated. The end goal is to find the moment of inertia...
  24. A

    Moment of inertia of a tire

    I=(1/2)(6kg)(0.4^2 + 0.52^2) = 1.29 kg*m^2 initial: 34 mph= 15.2m/s 15.2m/s = (ω) (0.52m) ω= 29.2 rad/s after: 19 mph = 8.5m/s 8.5m/s = ω(0.52m) ω= 16.3 rad/s acceleration = (16.3 rad/s - 29.2 rad/s) / 5s= -2.58 rad/s^2 torque= |-2.58 rad/s^2 |(1.29 kg*m^2 ) = 3.3 N*m I am confused...
  25. A

    Torque and inertia of a space object

    I= 524kg * 6m^2 = 18.86E3kg*m^2 KE=(1/2) (18.86E3kg*m^2) (0.16 rad/s )^2= 241.5 J torque= 0.25* 57N* (6m)=85.5 N*m
  26. Celso

    Rigid body motion - thin disc

    Why is the gravitational potential energy of the chain's center of mass equal to the total kinetic energy of the disc after it was fully wrapped? My first thought was to write ##E_{0}=(M/2+M)g∗2πR=E_{f}= Ep## (from the chain) ##+Ec## (from the disc). Instead he wrote ## mg \frac{l}{2} ## = ##...
    • Celso
    • Thread
    • classical mechanics moment of inertia rigid body
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Mechanics
  27. The Bizarre Behavior of Rotating Bodies, Explained

    The Bizarre Behavior of Rotating Bodies, Explained

    Spinning objects have strange instabilities known as The Dzhanibekov Effect or Tennis Racket Theorem - this video offers an intuitive explanation. Part of th...
    • Swamp Thing
    • Media item
    • moment of inertia rotation
    • Comments: 0
    • Category: Pop Science
  28. Kaushik

    Moment of Inertia of a hollow sphere with Mass 'M' and radius 'R'.

    Homework Statement: Derive the formula for moment of inertia of a hollow sphere. Homework Equations: Required answer ##\frac{2MR^2}{3}## Consider a Hollow sphere. At an angle ##Θ## with the vertical, consider a circular ring whose moment of inertia is given by ##MR^2##. The most basic...
  29. Prabs3257

    Rotating pendulum

    is this eqn correct
  30. G

    I The time for a tilted brick to hit the ground

    I am interested in climate change and thereby interested in tipping points. So for the last few months, I have been investigating the dynamics of a toppling brick. I derived a differential equation of for the motion and wrote a computer program to solve this from initial conditions. I have more...
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