MOMENT OF INERTIA

Background: Newton’s First Law of Motion – a body in motion remains in motion – a body at rest
remains at rest unless acted upon by a force – INERTIA. It is applied to rotating objects that unless
hindered by an external influence, will keep rotating at the same rate within the same axis and
nonrotating objects will maintain their state of motion.

Introduction

Moment of Inertia is the quantifiable charges that impedes changes in an object’s rotational state of
motion. It appears in the relationship for the dynamics of rotational motion. The moment of inertia
mainly depends upon the distribution of mass around an axis of rotation. The SI unit of moment of
inertia is
2
kg m
For a point mass, the moment of inertia is defined as the product of the mass, m and the radius from the
rotation axis, r squared.
2
I =m r
The point mass relationship becomes the basis for all other moments of inertia since any object can be
built up from a collection of point masses. Thus, the formula of moment of inertia for different objects
would vary with respect to the (1) the density of the material, (2) the shape and size of the body, and (3)
a specific rotation axis (distribution of mass relative to the axis).

On the other hand, the formula of moment of inertia in terms of the radius of gyration is given as:

I =mk
Notice that a new parameter known as radius of gyration, k is denoted. It can be defined as the
imaginary distance from the centroid at which the area of cross-section is imagined to be focused at a
point in order to obtain the same moment of inertia. The unit of the radius of gyration is mm.
Accordingly, it is given as follows:

k=
√ I
m
Objectives

Be familiarize with the concept and application of moment of inertia, I, with the contemplation
of Newton’s First Law of Motion by measuring the moments of inertia of a solid disk coin as well as its
radius of gyration.

Equipment:

1. Coin 4. Pen and Paper

2. Weighing Scale 5. Scientific Calculator
3. Ruler

Problem:

Measure the mass and radius of any solid disk coin. Then, solve for its (a) moment of inertia, I
and (b) radius of gyration, k.

Procedure:

1 2
The formula for the moment of inertia of a coin is I = mr , since it is classified as a solid disk
2
and accordingly, the initial steps conducted was to figure out the values of the parameters involved:
mass and radius of the coin. The coin was weighed in kg using a weighing scale while its diameter was
measured by a ruler; to determine its radius, it was divided into two. Then, the measured values were
substituted in the given formula to be solved using a pen, paper, and scientific calculator. After the
moment of inertia has been calculated, the radius of gyration was then figured out using the formula

k=
√ I.
m

Calculation:

m=5.33 g

Conclusion

Therefore, the moment of inertia of a solid disk coin is with a radius of gyration

A solid disk with a larger moment of inertia and radius of gyration will be harder to rotate, while a solid
disk with a smaller moment of inertia and radius of gyration will be easier to rotate. The moment of
inertia of a solid disk increase as the mass of the disk increases and the center of mass to the axis of
rotation increases.

The minimal moment of inertia of a solid disk coin implies that more mass are distributed closer to its
axis of rotation. Thus, it is easy for the coin to accelerate rotationally.

Documentation
References

Rotational-Linear Parallels – Retrieved January 6, 2023 from

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

Radius of Gyration – Retrieved January 6, 2023 from

https://byjus.com/physics/radius-of-gyration/
 PARALLEL AXIS THEOREM

Background: Moment of Inertia – For a point mass, the moment of inertia is simply the product of the
mass, m and the squared of the radius from the rotation axis, r ( I =m r 2). This becomes the basis for all
other moments of inertia since any object can be built up from a collection of point masses.

Introduction

The parallel axis theorem is used for finding the moment of inertia of the area of a rigid body whose axis
is parallel to the axis of the known moment body, and it is through the center of gravity of the object.
The moment of inertia of a body about an axis parallel to the body passing through its center is equal to
the sum of the moment of inertia of the body times the square of the distance of between two axes.
Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

I =I c + I r or I =I c + mr
2
or 2
I =m r + mr '
2

where I is the moment of inertia of the body, I c is the moment of inertia about the center, I r is the
moment of Inertia whose axis is parallel about the center, m is the mass of the body, and r is the radius
from the original axis, and r ' is the distance between the two axes.

Objectives

Further explore the moment of inertia by understanding and applying its closely related concept
– parallel axis theorem to find the moment of inertia of the area of a rigid body whose axis is parallel to
the axis of the known moment body, and it is through the center of gravity of the object.

Equipment:

1. Coin
2. Weighing Scale
3. Ruler
4. Pen and Paper
5. Scientific Calculator

Procedure:

Based from the previous experiment with moment of inertia, set a new axis of rotation parallel to the
original or the coin’s center of gravity. Then, using the formula I =m r 2+ mr ' 2 , solve for the new
moment of inertia of the coin applying the parallel axis theorem.

Calculation:

Conclusion

The moment of inertia of the solid disk coin around its center of mass is smaller in value than the
moment of inertia calculated around the new parallel axis. Thus, we can conclude that the coin’s mass
ends up farther away from the rotation axis as it rotates, compared to when the coin rotates around its
center.
Documentation

References

Parallel & Perpendicular Axis Theorems – Retrieved January 6, 2023 from

https://byjus.com/physics/parallel-perpendicular-axes-theorem/#:~:text=The%20parallel%20axis
%20theorem%20is,of%20gravity%20of%20the%20object.
 TORQUE

Background: Newton’s Second Law of Motion – Force is equal to the rate of change of momentum. For a
constant mass, force equals mass times acceleration, F=ma. Force is express in Newton, N as it is a
product of kg and m/s2. The acceleration of the body is directly proportional to the net force acting on
the body and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.

Introduction

Torque is the rotational counterpart of a force. Just like a net force is to translational motion, a net
torque causes a change in the rotational state of motion of a rigid body, that is torque causes angular
acceleration. Fundamentally, torque is the tendency of a force to run or twist in which it depends on
three parameters: the magnitude of the force, the direction of the applied force, and the distance from
the axis of rotation to the line of action of the force.

The straight line about which the object rotates is called the axis of rotation. When the axis of rotation
lies along the z-axis, torque is positive when it causes a counter-clockwise rotation and is negative when
it causes a clockwise rotation.

The distance of application of force from the axis of rotation is called the moment arm or lever arm. A
simple way to calculate the magnitude of the torque is to determine the product of the lever arm and
the applied force.

T =|Fr|
However, the torque produced depends on the magnitude of the force and the perpendicular distance
between the point about which torque is calculated and the point of application of force. So,
mathematically torque is represented as:

T =|Fr|sin θ
where F is the applied force, r is the length of the lever arm and θ is the angle between the force vector
and the lever arm. By dimensional analysis, the unit of torque is

Nm
*Note however that this unit does not translate to Joules as torque is different from work and energy.

Objectives

Understand the concept and real-life application of torque, T, by solving a sample problem
guided to describe how the magnitude of a torque depends on the magnitude of the lever arm and the
angle the force vector makes with the lever arm.

Equipment:

1. Door
2. Measuring Tape
3. Pen and Paper
4. Scientific Calculator

Problem:

In which part of a door, the hinge as the pivot point, we could exert the maximum torque with a
constant force of 50.0 N to push it?
Procedure:

In this experiment, three trials have been tested to compare and figure out which would require
a maximum torque by pushing the door. Each trial was calculated with a constant force – 50.0 N but
varying distance from the pivot point, which is the hinge.

The door was measured from the hinge to the nearest, middle, and opposite side, near the knob
to set values for each trial. The numbers obtained were 140 mm, 440 mm, and 750 mm for first, second,
and third trials, respectively.

WIth the formula of torque, T =|F r| sin θ , the lever arm r was replaced with distance d since it
is the quantifiable variable in this case. Thus, the formula used to evaluate the data is T =|F d| sin θ . The
measured distances and the given force were then substituted for calculation and comparison. 90 angle
was used in the computation since it is the regular opening angle of a door.

Calculation:

Conclusion

The first trial resulted to the lowest amount of torque - , second trial as the middle ground - , and the
third trial being the highest - . Thus, the value of r or d is directly proportional to the amount of torque
you exert. This implies that as you get closer to the hinge, a larger amount of force is required and a
minimum torque is exerted to open a door. On the other hand, the easiest way to open a door is to
exert a force on the side of the door opposite the hinge, and to push or pull with a force perpendicular
to the door. It is in this way you could maximize the torque you exert.

Documentation

References

Newton’s Second Law of Motion – Retrieved January 7, 2023 from

https://byjus.com/physics/newtons-second-law-of-motion-and-momentum/#:~:text=Newton's
%20second%20law%20states%20that,the%20mass%20of%20the%20body.

Introduction to Torque and its Application – Retrieved January 7, 2023 from

https://byjus.com/physics/torque/