Lab 8 — Rotational Inertia

Brenda Alvarez

Nyan Lin Myat

Physics 2AG – Mt. SAC

February 6, 2020
Objective:
The objective of this experiment was to find the moment of Inertia of the system
consisting of a metal pulley of mass M, which is free to rotate on its central axis. A mass m
attached to a string wrapped around the small axis is allowed to descend from a given height h,
which remains constant.

h(m) m(kg) r(m) t(s) v(m/s) I(kgm​2​)

.9 m .5 kg 0.0156 m 5.8 s 0.31 m/s 0.022

.9 m .65 kg 0.0156 m 5.32 s 0.34 m/s 0.024

.9 m .75 kg 0.0156 m 4.89 s 0.37 m/s 0.024

.9 m .8 kg 0.0156 m 4.86 s 0.37 m/s 0.025

.9 m .1 kg 0.1 m 2.14 s 0.84 m/s 0.025

.9 m .15 kg 0.1 m 1.84 s 0.99 m/s 0.028

.9 m .2 kg 0.1 m 1.68 s 1.07 m/s 0.03

.9 m .25 kg 0.1 m 1.57 s 1.15 m/s 0.034

Questions:
1. Why was it important to keep the height h of the block consistent?
— The height​ h ​should be consistent to have similar I from both radii.
2. Are you expecting to get the same answer for both radii? Explain?
— Yes, because the center of both radii as well as the rpm of both are the same as it is from one
pulley.
3. How will your results vary if the pulley is spherical in shape?
— Rotational inertia depends on mass and shape therefore the results will change.
 4. What was the largest source of error in this experiment?
— The largest source of error is the reaction time needed to mark the time of the stop-watch
which causes delay in the time marking.
5. What force(s) is (are) responsible for causing the pulley to spin?
— The tension in the string and the weight of the object pulled by gravity.
6. Estimate the tension in the string in each case by using the results obtained. Use the table
below.
7. Estimate the angular acceleration of the pulley in each case.
8. Is the angular momentum of the pulley (w/respect to the axis of rotation) conserved?
Explain.
— Yes, because it is a closed system.

T α

r 4.91 0.05

6.38 0.06

7.36 0.07

7.85 0.07

R .98 0.4

.47 0.5

1.96 0.6

2.45 0.7

Conclusion:
The inertia within a closed system will be constant with constant angular momentum.