Simple Moment of Inertia question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the moment of inertia for a system involving a massless rod and two attached masses, specifically a mass of 2m at one end and a mass of m at the other. The problem is situated within the context of rotational dynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to determine the moment of inertia by treating the masses as point particles and considers adding their individual contributions based on their distances from the axis of rotation. There is also a question about the appropriate terminology regarding the dimensions used in the calculations.

Discussion Status

Some participants confirm the original poster's conceptual approach while also pointing out potential terminology issues. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct application of the moment of inertia formula in this specific context.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of clarity in the textbook examples and the potential confusion arising from the use of different terms for dimensions. The original poster acknowledges a possible error in notation regarding the length of the rod.

Igottabull
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Rotating a massless rod of length R about the midpoint of the rod with a mass of 2m attached to one end and a mass of m to the other. What is the moment of inertia?

My book is terrible at giving good examples, there's nothing similar to this.

Do I treat them as two separate point particles, take the moment of inertia of each around the axis and add them? (2m*(r/2)^2) + (m*(r/2)^2) I'm assuming I can treat them as points, the drawing has the masses as clearly different sized spheres, but says nothing about their radius or anything of that nature.

Thanks in advance guys.
 
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I think I have it right, would still appreciate confirmation though, thanks guys.
 
Last edited:
Your concept is correct, but I think you meant diameter instead of radius for the term r used in your equation.
 
Actually the book used R as the length of the rod, I probably shouldn't have used lower case there, sorry about the confusion. Thanks again.
 

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