MOMENT OF INERTIA OF FLYWHEEL

Abdul Saboor, Asim Ahmer Talpur, Muhammad Ahmed

15th March 2021

Abstract:
In this experiment we are to determine the moment of inertia of the flywheel.
Which We will do so by Rotating our flywheel around a horizontal axis. The
rotation will be provided by string whose one end will be connected to axle of
wheel and other will be connected to a hanging mass.

Theory:
As stated above we will hang a mass(M ) which will fall a distance (h). And Our
string will provide rotation to flywheel. Or in other words the potential energy
of mass (M gh) will be consumed in generating kinetic energy of Hanging mass,
rotational energy of fly wheel and work done by friction. Thus, our equation
will be:
1 2 n1 1 2 1
M gh = Iw + Iw + M v 2
2 n 2 2

The Rotational energy of flywheel is 21 Iw2 and is dissipated in n rotations of

the wheel. The energy lost per rotation in overcoming friction is n1 12 Iw2 . If at
the start of motion, the string is wrapped n1 times round the axle, the potential
energy of the falling weight used up in overcoming friction is nn1 12 Iw2 and the
kinetic energy of the falling weight at the moment of detaching is 12 M v 2 . Here
v = wr = 2πrn 2πn
T , so w = T .

Observation and Calculation:

Radius of Flywheel is RF = 0.114m and radius of its axle is Ra = 0.0114m

No: of Avg angular

Trial no: Mass Height Time No: of turns
wraps velocity
1 250g 45.3 cm 10 158 sec 92.25 rev 7.33 rad/sec
2 100g 39.7 cm 7.5 98 sec 27.5 rev 3.52 rad/sec

1
Results:
After writing down our observation and calculating average angular velocities.
We were able to use above equation for finding moment of inertia of flywheel
and our results for trial 1 was I = 0.041kgm2 and trial 2 was I = 0.043kgm2 .

1 Discussion: