Moment of Inertia of a Disk rotating around a rod

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the moment of inertia of a disk rotating around a vertical rod, as presented in a problem from Kleppner and Kolenkow. The primary focus is on determining the normal force acting on the disk and understanding the moment of inertia in the context of the given setup.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of the perpendicular axis theorem and the parallel axis theorem to find the moment of inertia. There are attempts to set up integrals for calculating the moment of inertia, with some participants expressing confusion about the bounds and setup. Questions arise regarding the correctness of their calculations and the assumptions made about the orientation of the disk.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and sharing insights about theorems related to moment of inertia. Some guidance has been offered regarding the application of theorems, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or solution yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential misunderstandings related to the orientation of the disk and the application of theorems, indicating that assumptions about the setup may need to be revisited. There is also mention of a diagram that may not have been accurately represented in the discussion.

thejinx0r
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Homework Statement



It's part of Kleppner and Kolenkow 7.4.
See the attached picture.
(The disk is rotating around the vertical "stick", not rotating towards it. (I have bad drawing skills)

The question mainly asks what is the normal force on the disk.

I am stuck trying to find the moment of inertia of the z direction.

Homework Equations



\int r^2 dm

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't have much to go with.

Well, I said that the perpendicular direction from the disk is constantly R.
For dm, I was thinking thinking of dividing the disc into vertical slices so that they look like horizontal rods.

Then I simply did not what to do because I did not know how to set up the bounds on the integral.

So, the mass of one those segments should be \rho dL with dL changing from 0 to 2b. and my integral should be times 2 since I have a top and bottom to my disk and from 0 to 2b is only one half.

But it just looked weird and I know it's wrong. So I really need help with this part.
\int_{0}^{2b} 2R^2 \rho LdL = 8R^2 \rho b^2
 

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Take the easy road: Make use of the perpendicular axis theorem. (And then the parallel axis theorem.)
 
Never head of the parallel axis theorem, will look it uo.

:D
 
Actually, it is not making sens to me.
There must be something wrong I am doing.
Frrom the perpendicular axis theorem.

Iz_o =Ix+IyWe have
Ix= 1/2 mb^2.
Iy = 1/4 mb^2.
so, Iz _o = 3/4 mb^2.

Now, using the parallel axis theorem,
Iz=I_zo + mr^2
Iz = 3/4 mb^2 + mr^2.

Now I was interested at the angular momentum,
so L = I_z \Omega for the z component of the disc at that point
L = (3/4 mb^2 + mr^2.) \Omega
but
r\omega = R\Omega
so
L= 3/4 mb^2 \ Omega + 1/2 mb^2 \omega^2 \div \Omega

But somehow I found (on the interner) that it should be
1/4 mb^2 for Iz, which does work when I plug in the numbers... :S

Actually, it shouldn't matter what numbers I plug in, because i take the derivative of it which gives 0. But I would still like to know what I'm doing is right or wrong for calculating I.
 
thejinx0r said:
Actually, it is not making sens to me.
There must be something wrong I am doing.
Frrom the perpendicular axis theorem.

Iz_o =Ix+Iy


We have
Ix= 1/2 mb^2.
Iy = 1/4 mb^2.
so, Iz _o = 3/4 mb^2.
For the disk, we know that Iz = 1/2 mb^2 and that Ix = Iy (by symmetry). Note that the z-axis (for now) is perpendicular to the plane of the disk.

See: Perpendicular Axis Theorem
 
But the disk is upright, not flat.

So based on that diagram,
it's z would be my y.
x is x
and why would be z.

so, 1/2+1/4 = 3/4.

Hm,
but it does seem to give what I want if I do Iy=Iz-Ix.
But I highly doubt that it would be something I could do. :S

But at least if I just took Iy to begin with, it could explain a lot of things.
 
thejinx0r said:
But the disk is upright, not flat.

So based on that diagram,
it's z would be my y.
x is x
and why would be z.

so, 1/2+1/4 = 3/4.
Did you read the link I gave?

Call the axes what you will, your equation should look like: I + I = 1/2 mb^2.

The I of the disk parallel to the z-axis but through its center of mass is 1/4mb^2 (per the above equation).
 
I missed the in the plane part of
through the same point in the plane of the object.

Thanks a lot,
I will remember this.
I knew I missed something and made it sound really dumb
 

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