# Moment of Inertia/Angular Speed/Torque

1. Sep 13, 2007

### mircobot

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A flat construction of two circular rings that have a common center and are held together by three rods of negligible mass. The construction, which is initially at rest, can rotate around the common center (like a merry-go-round) through which another rod of negligible mass extends. Mass 1 is 0.12 kg, its inside and outside radii are 0.016 m and 0.045 m, respectively. Mass 2 is 0.24 kg, its inside and outside radii are 0.090 m and 0.140 m, respectively. A tangential force of magnitude 13.0 N is applied to the outer edge of the outer ring for 0.300 s. What is the change in the angular speed of the construction during that time interval?

2. Relevant equations
I believe the following is the correct moment of inertia formula for this problem:

I = (1/2)M(R1^2 + R2^2)

3. The attempt at a solution
What I have done so far is calculate each ring's moment of inertia.

Ring 1:
I1 = (1/2)M(R1^2 + R2^2)
I1 = (1/2)(0.12 kg)((0.016 m)^2 + (0.045 m)^2)
I1 = 1.3686e-4 (kg*m^2)

Ring 2:
I2 = (1/2)M(R1^2 + R2^2)
I2 = (1/2)(0.24 kg)((0.090 m)^2 + (0.140 m)^2)
I2 = .003324 (kg*m^2)

This is as far as I have gotten and I am not even sure if the work I have done thus far is relevant. I am not sure what to do with the tangential force provided by the problem. I know F = ma, but I am not sure where that, or if it even does, fit in. Please help, this one has been stumping me for a while. Thanks for your time.

2. Sep 14, 2007

### Mentz114

The two rings are a blind. You can treat the construct as one assembly with a MoI given by the sum of the MoI of the two rings.

So the problem is just to calculate the angular acceleration caused by a tangential force.
Have a look here http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mi.html and you'll see it's just like a = f/m.

3. Sep 14, 2007

### mircobot

Okay, so I used the formula from the reference you gave me, alpha = F/I:

alpha = (13 N)/(0.00346 kg*m^2)

also I know the equation for angular speed relative to angular acceleration:
w = alpha * time

so,

Unfortunately I made a mistake because that is wrong. I don't think I need to use one of the constant acceleration equations because the angular acceleration isn't constant. I thought I was on the right track. Thanks for your time.

4. Sep 14, 2007

### mircobot

Nevermind, I figured out where my error was. I don't know why I did this, but I set the torque to just the tangential force. Torque is defined as force * radius. Thus all I needed to do was to multiply the 13 N force in my problem by the outer radius since that is where the force is applied. My final answer came to 157.8034682 rad/s.

Thanks, Mentz114 for leading me in the right direction.