How to derive the formula for moment of inertia of polygon?

In summary, the conversation is about deriving the formula for moment of inertia of a polygon. @aridno provides a formula in a forum post, while @chris23 provides a dead link for the derivation. The suggested hint is to use Green's Theorem and the definitions of area and moments.
  • #1
trytodoit
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0
Sorry to bring this question up again.

@aridno provides a nice formula of the moment of inertia I about the centroid in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/calculating-polygon-inertia.25293/ as:

$$
I=\sum_{n=1}^{N}\frac{\rho}{12}||\vec{P}_{n+1}\times\vec{P}_{n}||(\vec{P}_{n+1}^{2}+\vec{P}_{n+1}\cdot\vec{P}_{n}+\vec{P}_{n}^{2})
$$

in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/moment-of-inertia-of-a-polygon.43071/ , @chris23 provides a link for the derivation, but the link is dead.

So, can someone give me a hint on how to derive this equation?
 
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  • #2
trytodoit said:
Sorry to bring this question up again.

@aridno provides a nice formula of the moment of inertia I about the centroid in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/calculating-polygon-inertia.25293/ as:

$$
I=\sum_{n=1}^{N}\frac{\rho}{12}||\vec{P}_{n+1}\times\vec{P}_{n}||(\vec{P}_{n+1}^{2}+\vec{P}_{n+1}\cdot\vec{P}_{n}+\vec{P}_{n}^{2})
$$

in https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/moment-of-inertia-of-a-polygon.43071/ , @chris23 provides a link for the derivation, but the link is dead.

So, can someone give me a hint on how to derive this equation?

You can apply Green's Theorem in the plane to derive the regular formulas for calculating the area and first and second moments of area for the general closed polygon.
You assume that the polygon is described by a set of points connected with straight-line segments and go from there, using the definitions of area and the moments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygon [for calculating area and centroids]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_moment_of_area
 
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Likes trytodoit
  • #3
@https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-to-derive-the-formula-for-moment-of-inertia-of-polygon.809203/members/steamking.301881/ Thanks for your hint! I worked it out.
 
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1. How do you determine the formula for moment of inertia of a polygon?

The formula for moment of inertia of a polygon can be derived by using the parallel axis theorem, which states that the moment of inertia of a shape is equal to the moment of inertia of that shape's centroid plus the product of the shape's mass and the square of the distance between the centroid and the new axis of rotation.

2. What is the formula for moment of inertia of a regular polygon?

The formula for moment of inertia of a regular polygon is I = (1/12) * m * a^2 * (n^2 + 4), where m is the mass of the polygon, a is the length of each side, and n is the number of sides.

3. Can the formula for moment of inertia of a polygon be applied to irregular polygons?

Yes, the formula for moment of inertia of a polygon can also be applied to irregular polygons by breaking the shape down into smaller regular polygons and using the parallel axis theorem to find the moment of inertia of each section.

4. How is the moment of inertia of a polygon affected by changes in mass or shape?

The moment of inertia of a polygon is directly proportional to the mass of the shape and the square of the distance between the centroid and the new axis of rotation. Therefore, any changes in mass or shape will affect the moment of inertia of the polygon.

5. What are the practical applications of the moment of inertia of a polygon?

The moment of inertia of a polygon is an important concept in physics and engineering and has practical applications in designing structures, analyzing the stability of rotating objects, and understanding the motion of objects in different systems.

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