Moment of inertia of a few basic objects

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around deriving the formula for the moment of inertia of various objects, specifically a rectangular slab and an annular cylinder. The original poster expresses uncertainty in applying the moment of inertia formula and seeks assistance in understanding the integration process involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of double integrals and the expression for the distance from the axis of rotation. There are inquiries about how to express the distance in terms of coordinates and how to handle the limits of integration.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging in clarifying the setup for the integration and the interpretation of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the expression for distance and the integration process, but there remains a lack of explicit consensus on the final approach to the solution.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is new to the forum and is seeking help with homework constraints that may limit the resources they can use. There is also a mention of confusion regarding the application of the Cartesian coordinate system in the context of the problem.

Draco27
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Ok i need some help with some homework that is to derive formula for moment of inertia of a few objects about the axis's that i have mentioned
1. Rectangular slab about axis through center(sides a,b)
2. Annular cylinder about central axis (radii R1 and R2)




The only equation i know is Moment of inertia = ∫r[itex]^2[/itex]dm



any help would be appriciated

I am new here so if this has been answered pls help me locate and lock this up...

Thanking in advance...
 
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Where are you getting stuck? You don't know how to apply the formula you were given? Something else?
 
Hmm i could do it for sphere or ring or others but got struck on slab

Googled and reached this
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=57119

But i could not understand the double integration or how it is done...

So pls help me solve that if possible...
 
Last edited:
How did you set up the double integral?
 
What does "axis through center" really mean? There are infinitely many possible axes through the center of a figure.
 
To Muphrid

Ok What i did is this

rho=M/a*b

dm=rho*dx*dy (assuming smaller rectangles of length dx and dy)

di= dI = r2 * rho* da*db

dI = (r^2 * m * da* db )/abNow it says to integrate with limits from -a/2 to a/2 and -b/2 to b/2

also couldn't understand what to put in r

To voko

Sorry about that
the axis is passing through center and perpendicular to plane of rectangle
 
Last edited:
r is the distance from the axis to the (x, y) point.
 
But this distance changes right so what exactly i put??

Also if possible help me reach a solution
i mean what would u do to solve??
 
The axis is at the point (0, 0). What is the distance between that point and (x, y)?
 
  • #10
Draco27 said:
To Muphrid

Ok What i did is this

rho=M/a*b

dm=rho*dx*dy (assuming smaller rectangles of length dx and dy)

di= dI = r2 * rho* da*db

dI = (r^2 * m * da* db )/abNow it says to integrate with limits from -a/2 to a/2 and -b/2 to b/2

also couldn't understand what to put in r

Don't call them [itex]da, db[/itex]. They're [itex]dx[/itex] and [itex]dy[/itex]. This is what you have:

[tex]\int_{-b/2}^{b/2} \int_{-a/2}^{a/2} \rho r^2 \; dx \; dy[/tex]

You're confused about what to put in for [itex]r[/itex]. It should represent the distance to the axis of rotation, but you're integrating in terms of [itex]x,y[/itex]. Is there some way you can put [itex]r[/itex] in terms of [itex]x,y[/itex]?
 
  • #12
You are not following the advice given to you. You need to express r in terms of x and y.
 
  • #13
Thats the thing i can't figure out

Do u have a solution??
 
  • #14
Have you heard of the Pythagorean theorem?
 
  • #15
But the r from the central axis changes all around the rectangle...
 
  • #16
Are you saying that you are tasked to compute moments of inertia without studying the basic properties of the Cartesian coordinate system? I fail to see the point of such an assignment.
 
  • #17
Draco27 said:
But the r from the central axis changes all around the rectangle...

You're not being asked for the distance all around the rectangle, but all throughout the rectangle. Yes, this distance changes as you move within the slab. That's fine. What's important is you have an expression in terms of [itex]x,y[/itex]. Once you do that, you can integrate it.

You should not expect the distance to be a constant.
 
  • #18
So which distance do i put in the place of r??
 
  • #19
What do you mean which distance? Is there more than one you think might be correct?
 
  • #20
so i put r2=x2+y2

after that??

how i solve the double integration??
 
Last edited:
  • #21
Do you know how to take a single integral?
 
  • #22
of course
 
  • #23
Integrals are linear, which means you can do the integrals for [itex]x^2[/itex] and [itex]y^2[/itex] separate and then just add them together at the end.
 
  • #24
Then take the single integral by x first. Treat y as a constant. Then take the integral by y.
 
  • #25
and which limit do i put after integrating??

there are 4 limits...

would appreciate if u could solve...
 
  • #26
Choose a-limits for x, and b-limits for y. Or the other way around. It does not change anything.
 
  • #27
Finally...
Got it
Thanks man
Many many thanks...to u and Muphrid
 

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