Rotational inertia (moment of inertia)

[mossman]

hi guys I am having a problem with a physics problem.

the question is about a seesaw that has two masses, m_1 and m_2 at each end of the seesaw. the length of the seesaw is L, so each mass is a distance L/2 from the pivot (center). i answered the question for what the Inertia was for a massless seesaw, (massless rod), and the answer came out to be correct and was m_1(L/2)^2 + m_2(L/2)^2,

now its asking me what it is if the swing does not have a negligible mass (m_bar), and what the new inertia would be. well the inertia of a thin rod rotating about its center is
1/12mL^2.

so now wouldn't the rotation of a rigid body be the sum of the inertias of the points with mass points?

so the answer should be m_1(L/2)^2 + m_2(L/2)^2 + 1/12m_barL^2

ive tried using hints but they didn't help, i don't know where I am going wrong here. the answers i entered showed up incorrect and I am wondering what I am doing wrong. thanks for your help guys!

 

[Doc Al]

so now wouldn't the rotation of a rigid body be the sum of the inertias of the points with mass points?

Yep. Just add them.

so the answer should be m_1(L/2)^2 + m_2(L/2)^2 + 1/12m_barL^2

Yep.

Looks right to me. (Those online systems can be picky, though.)