Moment of inertia of a sphere about an axis

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the moment of inertia of a sphere that consists of a solid wooden core and a thin lead coating. The sphere has a uniform density and specific dimensions, and participants are tasked with determining the moment of inertia about an axis through the center.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the mass of the sphere and the lead coating using density and volume formulas, but encounters difficulties in applying the moment of inertia formula correctly.
  • Some participants question the treatment of the lead coating as a spherical shell and discuss the implications of its area density on the calculations.
  • Others express uncertainty about how to calculate the volume of the spherical shell given the area density.
  • There are discussions about the need for different formulas for the moment of inertia for the sphere and the shell.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing with participants exploring various interpretations of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the distinction between the solid sphere and the shell, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraint of having an area density for the lead coating but lacking specific information about its thickness. This has led to confusion regarding how to calculate the relevant volumes and apply the moment of inertia formulas appropriately.

azila
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Homework Statement


A sphere consists of a solid wooden ball of uniform density 800 kg/m^3 and radius .20 m and is covered with a thin coating of lead full with area density 20 kg/m^2.

A. calculate the moment of inertia of this sphere about an axis through the center.


Homework Equations


For a sphere: I = (2/5)MR^2
Volume of a sphere: (4/3)pir^3
Area of a sphere: 4pir^2
D = m/v


The Attempt at a Solution



Ok, So this is what I did. I don't know the mass, so I have to find the mass through the density. So, for the uniform sphere itself, I did 800 kg/m^3 * (the volume of a sphere) and got the mass of the sphere without the lead covering to be 26.8083. Then I did the lead covering, I did 20 kg/m^2 * (volume of the sphere) and got 10.0531. So then, I added 26.8083 + 10.0531 and got 36.86. I then plugged this mass into the equation of inertia: I= (2/5)(36.86) (.20 (radius))^2 and got .590. However, that is not the answer. So if someone can tell me where I am going wrong, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
 
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the lead covering is a spherical shell, not a sphere! so you need the volume of the spherical shell... so how thin is that coating?
EDIT: oh hang on, they give you the area density so... you just assume it is infinitesimally thin and just need surface area.
 
but how would I calculate the volume of the spherical shell??
 
i am only given a area density for the shell...so how would i calculate the volume??
 
I ;ve edited my original post already before your replies.
 
i did calculate the surface area of the lead covering to be 10.0531. But when I combined the masses, and used the moment of inertia equation it didn't work. What am i doing wrong?
 
there is a separate formula for moment of inertial for a spherical shell
the problem here is that you no longer have uniform density as soon as you add in the lead layer...
 
so...like would i do the I= MR^2 for the shell and the I=(2/5)MR^2 for the sphere and add them together... I am so stressed because I just can't seem to solve the problem..Please help. Thanks .
 
since you seem to have the correct answer given to compare, just try it and see. by the way the moment of inertial of a spherical shell is NOT I=MR^2
look it up or dervie it!
 

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