MoI of a Sphere using Spherical Coordinates

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the moment of inertia of a uniformly distributed sphere about an axis through its center using spherical coordinates. The initial approach yielded an incorrect result of \(\frac{3}{5} MR^{2}\) due to a misunderstanding of the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation. It was clarified that the correct expression for the perpendicular distance in spherical coordinates is \(r_{\perp} = r\sin\theta\), which leads to the correct moment of inertia integral. The final result, using the appropriate adjustments, confirms that the moment of inertia is indeed \(\frac{2}{5} MR^{2}\). This highlights the importance of correctly interpreting the coordinates in relation to the axis of rotation.
Ackbach
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Homework Statement



Calculate the moment of inertia of a uniformly distributed sphere about an axis through its center.

Homework Equations



I know that
$$I= \frac{2}{5} M R^{2},$$
where ##M## is the mass and ##R## is the radius of the sphere. However, for some reason,
when I do this integration in spherical coordinates, I do not get this result.

The Attempt at a Solution



The density is
$$ \rho= \frac{M}{V}= \frac{3M}{4 \pi R^{3}}.$$
Then the moment of inertia is
$$I= \int r^{2} \,dm= \rho \iiint_{V}r^{2} \,dV
= \rho \int_{0}^{2 \pi} \int_{0}^{ \pi} \int_{0}^{R} r^{4} \sin(\theta) \, dr \, d\theta \, d\phi
=4 \pi \rho \frac{R^{5}}{5}
$$
$$=4 \pi \frac{3M}{4 \pi R^{3}} \frac{R^{5}}{5}= \frac{3}{5} MR^{2}.$$
Where is my error?

I know, I know: all the derivations of this result I can find split the sphere up into
disks. I understand those derivations: I want to know where this one is wrong.
 
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The ##r## in the moment of inertia integral is the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to a given mass element ##dm##. The ##r## in spherical coordinates is the distance to ##dm## from the center of the 2-sphere. The two only agree for mass elements that lie on the equatorial plane.
 
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If you really want to use spherical coordinates, then note that the perpendicular distance from the axis of rotation to a given mass element will be given by ##r_{\perp } = r\sin\theta## hence the moment of inertial integral becomes ##I = \rho \int _{S^{2}}r^{2}\sin^{2}\theta dV = \frac{3}{10}MR^{2} \int_{0}^{\pi}\sin^{3}\theta d\theta = \frac{3}{10}\frac{4}{3}MR^{2} = \frac{2}{5}MR^{2}##.
 
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