# Moment of Inertia for a Thick Spherical Shell

1. Mar 13, 2016

### b100c

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A)
Consider a hollow sphere of uniform density with an outer radius $R$ and inner radius $\alpha R$, where $0\leq\alpha\leq1$. Calculate its moment of inertia.
B) Take the limit as $\lim_{\alpha\to1}$ to determine the moment of inertia of a thin spherical shell.
2. Relevant equations
Moment of Inertia: $I = \int r^2 dm$
3. The attempt at a solution
$dm = \rho dV$. Where rho is density. The volume element for a sphere is $$dV=r^2sin\theta d\theta d\varphi dr$$
So I think I would integrate over a sphere but instead from inner radius to the outer radius? $$I = \rho \int_{\alpha R}^{R} r^4 dr \int_{0}^{\pi} sin\theta d\theta \int_{0}^{2\pi} d\varphi$$
Which yields $$\frac{4\pi}{5} \rho (R^5 - \alpha R^5)$$
If $$\rho = \frac{m}{V} = \frac{m}{\frac{4\pi (R^3 - \alpha R^3)}{3}}$$
Then the equation for moment of inertia becomes
$$I = \frac{3}{5}mR^2 \frac{1-\alpha^5}{1-\alpha^3}$$

The problems is now when I take the limit as alpha approaches 1, and apply l'Hopital's rule, I get that moment of inertia is $mR^2$, when there should be a factor of $\frac{2}{3}$?

2. Mar 13, 2016

### BvU

In your I calculation, the r in your relevant equation is not the distance from the origin, but the distance from the axis of rotation ...

3. Mar 13, 2016

### b100c

Thanks BvU, that was a stupid mistake on my part. I replaced r with rsin(theta) in spherical coordinates and I got the correct answer.

4. Mar 13, 2016

well done!