Calculating Moment of Inertia Homework: Soccer Ball

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the moment of inertia (κ) for a soccer ball rolling down a ramp. Using the known values of mass (m = 331.2 kg), radius (R = 10.54 cm), time (t = 2.25 s), distance (d = 0.2805 m), and height (h = 0.0445 m), the participant derived the equations necessary for the calculation. The final computed values were v = 1.65 m/s and κ = 30.8, which was significantly higher than the expected κ value of 2/3 for a thin spherical shell. The participant identified issues with the time measurement and unit consistency, which contributed to the discrepancies in their results.

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Shawkify
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Homework Statement


An object rolls down a ramp starting from rest, demonstrate symbolically the calculation needed to go from time given to a measured κ value here. Pick your favourite object and perform the calculation.
d, m, R, t, h are known
http://puu.sh/luare/10352d0479.png

Soccer Ball:
m = 331.2 kg
R = 10.54 cm
t = 2.25 s
d = 0.2805 m
h = 0.0445 m

Homework Equations


Derived from an earlier problem:
a = (g*h)/(d*(1+k))
d = 1/2*a*Δt2

KEtotal = 1/2*m*v2 + 1/2*I*ω2
I = κ*m*R2
U = m*g*h
v = v0 + a*t

The Attempt at a Solution



Ui = KEf
m*g*h = 1/2*m*v2 + 1/2*I*ω2
m*g*h = 1/2*m*v2 + 1/2*κ*m*R2*(v/R)2
g*h = 1/2*v2 + 1/2*κ*v2
κ = (g*h)/v2 - 1
v = (g*h)/(d*(1+k))*t

Solving a system of equations gives me:
v = (2*d)/t
κ = (g*h*t2 - 2*d2)/(2*d2)

Plugging in values gives me v = 1.65 m/s and k = 30.8. Compared to a chart which gives a value of κ = 2/3 for a thin spherical shell, my κ value is extremely large.
 
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Shawkify said:
g*h = 1/2*v2 + 1/2*κ*v2
κ = (g*h)/v2 - 1
You lost a factor of 2 there, but it reappeared later.
Shawkify said:
t = 2.25 s
That seems like a very long time, given the set-up. It should be more like 0.6 s.
Shawkify said:
v = (2*d)/t
gives me v = 1.65 m/s
How do you get that from these numbers? (2*0.2805)/2.25=0.25
 
haruspex said:
You lost a factor of 2 there, but it reappeared later.

That seems like a very long time, given the set-up. It should be more like 0.6 s.

How do you get that from these numbers? (2*0.2805)/2.25=0.25

Thanks for your help, I've been told the units for this problem were all messed up and have successfully solved the corrected version.
 

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