Moment of inertia of a solid sphere calculation

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SUMMARY

The moment of inertia of a solid sphere with uniform density, rotating about an axis through its center, is definitively calculated as I = 2MR²/5. The derivation involves a triple integral in spherical coordinates, where the mass element dm is expressed as dm = ρr²sinφ dr dθ dφ. For a hollow sphere, the moment of inertia can be derived by subtracting the moment of inertia of an inner solid sphere from that of an outer solid sphere, simplifying the process significantly.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of spherical coordinates in calculus
  • Familiarity with the concept of moment of inertia
  • Knowledge of triple integrals
  • Basic principles of rotational dynamics
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  • Study the derivation of the moment of inertia for various geometric shapes
  • Learn about the application of triple integrals in physics
  • Explore the differences between solid and hollow objects in rotational dynamics
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How would one calculate the moment of inertia of a solid sphere (of uniform density, rotating about the axis through its center)? I know it's 2MR^{2}/5 but I got 3MR^{2}/5 when I attempted to derive it (just for fun, because I find rotational dynamics rather interesting). I would prefer a derivation that uses a single integral, which should be very much feasible.

While I'm on the subject, I would like to know how to derive the moment of inertia of a hollow sphere with an infinitely thin shell (again of uniform density, rotating about the axis through its center).
 
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It is easiest to do both calculations in cylindrical coordinates (r,φ,z) about the axis of rotation. You have to do two integrations, one in r, and one in z. For a shell, you can do two solid spheres, and subtract one from the other to get a hollow shell.
Bob S
 
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The form that this integral will take is

I=\int l^{2}\: dm

Where l is the distance from the axis of rotation.

Sorry, I am too lazy to draw any figures but here is one that will suffice.

spherical-coords.gif


In our case the distance from the axis of rotation (z) is given by

l=rsin\phi

as seen in the figure. We need to find dm now, and it is pretty easy. Use the volume element for spherical coordinates multiplied by the density. This is the little piece of mass.Density is given by

\rho=\frac{M}{\frac{4}{3}\pi R^{3}}So dm is

dm=\rho r^{2}sin\phi dr\:d\theta\:d\phiOur integral turns from this

I=\int l^{2}\: dm

into

I=\int (rsin\phi)^{2}\: \rho r^{2}sin\phi dr\:d\theta\:d\phiOf course this is not a single integral but a triple integral over our entire spherical volume. So

\rho \int^{\pi}_{0}\int^{2\pi}_{0}\int^{R}_{0} (rsin\phi)^{2}\: r^{2}sin\phi dr\:d\theta\:d\phi

And we can condense it some

\rho \int^{\pi}_{0}\int^{2\pi}_{0}\int^{R}_{0} r^{4}sin^{3}\phi \:dr\:d\theta\:d\phi

Now even further

\rho \int^{\pi}_{0}sin^{3}\phi\:d\phi \int^{2\pi}_{0}d\theta \int^{R}_{0} r^{4} \:dr

Solving a couple of the integrals

\frac{\rho2\pi\:R^{5}}{5} \int^{\pi}_{0}sin^{3}\phi\:d\phi

Now we just need to solve the last integral.

\int^{\pi}_{0}sin^{3}\phi\:d\phi

Convert

sin^{2}\phi=1-cos^{2}\phi

So

\int^{\pi}_{0}(1-cos^{2}\phi)sin\phi\:d\phi

Break up the integrals

\int^{\pi}_{0}sin\phi\:d\phi -\int^{\pi}_{0} cos^{2}\phi sin\phi\:d\phiThe first integral is equal to 2, and the second is equal to 2/3

\int^{\pi}_{0}sin\phi\:d\phi -\int^{\pi}_{0} cos^{2}\phi sin\phi\:d\phi=2-\frac{2}{3}=\frac{4}{3}
This means that the total integral (moment of inertia) is

I=\frac{\rho2\pi\:R^{5}}{5}\frac{4}{3}When we substitute in for rho we see that

I=\frac{M}{\frac{4}{3}\pi R^{3}}\frac{2\pi\:R^{5}}{5}\frac{4}{3}Which after canceling yields

I=\frac{2MR^{2}}{5}

If you want it for the case where it is merely a shell, don't do the integration over r, and multiply the result by dr.
 
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