Rotational Inertia and Torque for a Spinning Frisbee

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the rotational inertia and torque of a Frisbee, which has a specific mass distribution between a disk and a rim. The Frisbee is set into motion with a flick of the wrist, and the discussion revolves around the physics of rotational motion.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of rotational inertia using different formulas and consider the implications of the Frisbee's mass distribution. There are questions about the correct conversion of units and the approach to finding angular acceleration to calculate torque.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on recalculating the moment of inertia and emphasized the importance of using the correct units for angular velocity. There is an acknowledgment of the need to clarify the problem's parameters, such as the quarter turn and the initial conditions of the Frisbee's motion.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem statement, which specifies the mass distribution and the initial conditions for the Frisbee's motion. There is an ongoing discussion about the accuracy of calculations and assumptions made in the problem setup.

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Homework Statement


A 120g Frisbee is 28cm in diameter and has about half its mass spread uniformly in a disk, and the other half concentrated in the rim. With a quarter-turn flick of the wrist, a student sets the Frisbee rotating at 560rpm.

(a) What is the rotational inertia of the Frisbee?

(b) What is the magnitude of the torque, assumed constant, that the student applies?

Homework Equations


I=1/2*m*r2

I=m*r2

[tex]\tau=I\alpha[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



I got the first part of this by using I=1/2*.60kg*.14m2 for the disk then adding I=.60kg*.14m2 for the rim which gives me 0.001764kg/m2
The part that is messing me up is finding the torque, I think the best way to find the torque is to find the angular acceleration of the frisbee, but I havn't been able to get it. I am pretty sure I need to use the rotational/kinematic equations... Any help would be great.
 
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Welcome to PF.

First of all maybe recalculate your I ?
 
So long as you convert angles to radians and ω to radians/sec then you can use the kinematic analogs to motion:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/mi.html#rlin

You are accelerating the frisbee from rest to 560 rpm over 1/4 a turn (according to the problem anyway).
 
Thanks LowlyPion, I didn't realize it was only a quarter turn.
 
Be sure and correct your moment of Inertia calculation.

3/2(.60)(.14)2 is not .00176

Edit: Wait. I see it should have been .06 kg not as you wrote it. Your answer for I is correct making that change.
 
Last edited:

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