How Do You Calculate the Moment of Inertia for a Tennis Racket?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the moment of inertia for a tennis racket, one must consider both the handle and the flat circular disc separately, using the moment of inertia equations for a thin rod and a circular disc. The correct formula incorporates the parallel axis theorem, leading to the final expression: (ML^2/12) + (MR^2/2) + (M(L+2R)^2/8). Finding the common center of mass (COM) is crucial, which can be determined by the formula (COM1*M1 + COM2*M2)/(M1 + M2). A coordinate system should be established to accurately locate the COM of each component, ensuring the calculations are precise. Understanding these principles can aid in solving similar problems in physics.
metalInferno
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Homework Statement


a table teennis racket has a handle of mass m and length l and a flat circular disc of radius r and mass m attached to the handle . the moment of inertia of the racket about an axis perpendicular to its plane and passing through its center of mass of is ...?

Homework Equations


i think probably the eqs of MI of a thin rod of length l , and of a circular disc.

The Attempt at a Solution


i thought that by taking out the moment of inertia of rod and circular disc separately i will b able to solve it by later adding the answers . but i ended up with this instead \frac{ML^2}{3} + \frac{3MR^2}{2}

whereas the answer is :
\frac{ML^2}{12} +\frac{MR^2}{2} + \frac{M(L+2R)^2}{8}
 
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Use parallel axis theorem. Isn't anything mentioned about the shape of the handle? Then you have to take it as a thin rod.
 
I don't know how you got your first answer but in the second one the first and second terms are the contributions from the rod and the disk and the last comes from the parallel axis theorem. Find the distance of the center of mass of each from the common center of mass. Hi, Shooting star. Nice medal!
 
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did everything yet the answer does not come!
 
yeah but can u please enlighten me on how 2 to get the common centre of mass . and please state ur technique which i can use for other ques like this as well . thanks for the same . :)
 
metalInferno said:
yeah but can u please enlighten me on how 2 to get the common centre of mass . and please state ur technique which i can use for other ques like this as well . thanks for the same . :)

Pick a coordinate system. Find COM (center of mass) of each. Then the common COM is (COM1*M1+COM2*M2)/(M1+M2).
 
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Suppose the CM lies on the handle at dist x from where the handle meets the disk. Then,

m(r+x) = (m/L)(L-x)[(L-x)/2].

(EDIT.)
 
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Dick said:
Hi, Shooting star. Nice medal!

Thank you for noticing.
 
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