Experiment 10: Moments of Inertia

Figure 10.1: Beck’s Inertia Thing with masses

EQUIPMENT

Beck’s Inertia Thing

Vernier Caliper
30cm Ruler
Paper Clips
Mass Hanger
50g Mass
Meter Stick
Stopwatch

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2 Experiment 10: Moments of Inertia

Advance Reading so the tension is

Text: Torque, Rotational Motion, Moment of Inertia.
Objective
To determine the moment of inertia of a rotating sys-
tem, alter the system, and accurately predict the new
moment of inertia .
Theory
Moment of Inertia (I) can be understood as the ro-
tational analog of mass. Torque (τ ) and angular ac-
celeration (α) are the rotational analogs of force and
acceleration, respectively. Thus, in rotational motion,
Newton’s Second Law:
F = ma (10.1)
becomes:
T = m(g − a) (10.4)
The rotational apparatus has an original moment of in-
ertia I0 with no additional masses added. When
additional masses are added, it has a new moment of
inertia Inew . The added masses effectively behave as
point masses. The Moment of Inertia for a point mass
is Ip = M R2 , where M is the mass and R is the radius
from the point about which the mass rotates. Thus,
the relationship between I0 and Inew is given by
Inew = I0 + Ip1 + Ip2 + ... = I0 + M1 R12 + M2 R22 + ...
(10.5)
where M is an added mass and R is the distance of
this mass from the center of the wheel (i.e. from the
axis of rotation). So, if multiple masses are added at
the same radius, we have

τ = Iα. (10.2) Inew = I0 + ΣIp = I0 + (ΣM )R2 (10.6)

An object experiencing constant angular acceleration

In comparing this to Eq. 10.1, we consider that all
must be under the influence of a constant torque
masses, along with the disk, experience the same an-
(much like constant linear acceleration implies con-
gular acceleration. If we were looking for the Force
stant force). By applying a known torque to a rigid
on a system of connected masses all experiencing the
body, measuring the angular acceleration, and using
same acceleration, we would simply sum the masses
the relationship τ = Iα, the moment of inertia can be
and multiply by acceleration (i.e. a stack of boxes be-
determined.
ing pushed from the bottom). Similarly, when looking
In this experiment, a torque is applied to the rota- for the Torque on a system, we must sum the moments
tional apparatus by a string which is wrapped around of inertia and multiply by angular acceleration.
the axle of the apparatus. The tension T is supplied
by a hanging mass and found using Newton’s second
law.

Figure 10.2: String wrapped around axle.

If we take the downward direction as positive, and ap-

ply Newton’s second law, we have:

ΣF = mg − T = ma (10.3)
Prelab 10: Moments of Inertia 3

Name:

1. What is Moment of Inertia? Explain using words only. (20 pts)

2. Draw two force diagrams. One for the mass hanging from the sting, and a second for the disk as viewed from
above. (20 pts)

3. The rotational apparatus pictured below begins at rest. Upon release, the hanging mass falls 75cm in 10 seconds.
The apparatus experiences no friction torque. Calculate the following: (50 pts)

Figure 10.3

a) The acceleration of the falling mass.

b) Angular acceleration of the rotational apparatus.

c) The tension in the string.

d) The torque applied by the falling mass.

e) The net torque applied.

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Name: Section: Date:

Datasheet - Exp 10: Moments of Inertia

Objective
To determine the moment of inertia of a rotating system, alter the system, and accurately predict the new moment
of inertia .

Theory
Moment of Inertia (I) can be understood as the rotational analog of mass. Torque (τ ) and angular acceleration
(α) are the rotational analogs of force and acceleration, respectively.

Thus, in rotational motion, Newton’s Second Law: F = ma becomes: τ = Iα.

PROCEDURE

Part 1: Moment of Inertia of apparatus with no 9. Repeat Step 2 through Step 8 for 100 grams on the
additional masses. mass hanger in addition to the mass from Step 1.

1. Using the vernier caliper, measure the diameter of
the axle around which the string wraps. Calculate
the radius of the axle.
2. Holding the disk, place 50 grams (mass hangers are
50 grams) on the string. Measure the distance from
the bottom of the mass hanger to the floor.
10. Using Graphical Analysis, plot the net torque vs.
angular acceleration for both situations. Be sure
to enter the origin as a data point. Determine
the moment of inertia of the disk, I0 .
Part 2: Moment of Inertia of apparatus with
additional masses.

3. Release the disk, be sure not to impart an initial 11. Measure the distance from the center of the disk to
angular velocity. Using the stopwatch, measure the the outer set of tapped holes (Where you will attach
time until the mass hanger reaches the floor. the three large masses).

4. Repeat Step 3 five times. Record the times in a
table and calculate the average time.
5. Using the average time, calculate the linear ac-
celeration (a) of the masses with the kinematic
equation.
6. Calculate the angular acceleration (α) of the
disk using α = ar . Refer to Step 1 for r.
7. Calculate the tension (T ) on the string, Eq. 10.4.
(The total force (ma) is equal to the force of gravity
minus tension).
8. The applied torque on the spinning disk is provided
by the tension of the string. Use the values from
Step 7 and the radius of the axle to calculate the
torque (τ ).
12. Attach the three masses to the disk. These masses
are 1.35kg each. Calculate the new moment of iner-
tia, Inew , for the system (you may treat the added
masses as point masses, use I0 from part 1).
13. Repeat Step 2 through Step 10 for the altered sys-
tem. Calculate the percent difference between the
experimental value and the theoretical (calculated)
value.
You should have 2 graphs to include in your
lab report.
When determining independent and de-
pendent and variables, consider what you
changed between Part 1 and Part 2.
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Daxle :

raxle :

yf loor :

Rmasses :

Raw data:
Trial t-Part 1(a) (s) t-Part 1(b) (s) t-Part 2(a) (s) t-Part 2(b) (s)

Average

Calculated Data: Experimental I0 :

Part 1(a) Part 1(b) Part 2(a) Part 2(b) (Use this to calculate Theoretical Inew )

a
Theoretical Inew :
α

T Experimental Inew :

τ
(Be sure to include units in your lab report!) Percent Difference Inew :

Questions

1. What are the units for Torque, Moment of Inertia, and Angular Acceleration? Show all work.
2. If the Torque applied to a rigid body is doubled, what happens to the Moment of Inertia?
3. Why did you need to calculate acceleration to determine I0 ? Could you have calculated a theoretical I0 without
running any trials?

4. Were any torques ignored in this experiment? What are they? Do you believe they may have significantly altered
your results?