FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL

ENGINEERING

MECE 222 – DYNAMICS

LAB REPORT – CONSERVATION OF LINEAR
MOMENTUM
COURSE: MECHATRONICS AND INDUSTRIAL
INSTRUMENTATION

NAME STUDENT ID
GAME RADIRA 21000499
TLOTLO RANKGWATHI 21000503
GOBAKWE NKGALO
NICOLAS BOSELE
BAKANG MOFALADI 21000463
ABSTRACT:
The mass moment of inertia of a disc is an important parameter in the study of rotational
dynamics. In this experiment, two different methods were used to measure the mass moment of
inertia of disc specimens, and the results were compared with the theoretical values. The first
method involved rolling the disc down an inclined plane, while the second method involved
oscillating the disc with an added pendulum. The experimental results were analyzed and
compared with the theoretical values to determine the accuracy of the methods.

INTRODUCTION:
The mass moment of inertia is a physical property of an object that describes its resistance to
rotational motion. It is an important parameter in the study of rotational dynamics and is often
used to analyze the behavior of rotating systems. It is defined as the sum of the products of the
mass of each particle in the object and the square of its distance from the axis of rotation. The
mass moment of inertia of a disc can be measured using various methods, including rolling the
disc down an inclined plane and oscillating the disc with an added pendulum.
In this lab experiment, we will focus on measuring the mass moment of inertia of a disc
specimen using two different methods.
The first method involves rolling the disc down an inclined plane. The disc is placed at the top of
the inclined plane and allowed to roll down to the bottom. By measuring the time, it takes for the
disc to roll down the plane, the acceleration can be calculated. Knowing the angle of inclination,
the moment of inertia can be determined using the equation for rotational motion.
The second method involves oscillating the disc with an added pendulum. The disc is attached to
a pendulum and allowed to oscillate. The period of oscillation is measured, and the mass moment
of inertia can be calculated using the equation for the period of oscillation of a physical
pendulum.
OBJECTIVES
 To use two methods of measuring the mass moment of inertia of disc specimens and to
compare the results with the theoretical values. The methods are;

1. Rolling the disc down an inclined plane

2. Oscillating the disc with an added pendulum

MATERIALS

 Pair of profiled extrusions, 1.5 meters long

 Separators
 Levelling feet (2 for one end and 3 for the circular base)
 Adjustable long support rod
 Two knife-edges
 Circular base
 Steel discs (2)
 Axles (2)
 Diametric threaded hole
 Pendulum and bob (for second method of measurement
THEORY:
The mass moment of inertia of a disc can be calculated using the equation:
1 2
I =( ) mr
2
where I is the moment of inertia, m is the mass of the disc, and r is the radius of the disc.
The moment of inertia can then be calculated using the equation for rotational motion:
mgh
I=
½v ²
In the second method, the period of oscillation of the pendulum can be calculated using the
equation:

T =2 π
√ I
mgd
where T is the period of oscillation, m is the mass of the disc, g is the acceleration due to gravity,
d is the distance between the center of mass of the disc and the axis of rotation, and I is the
moment of inertia of the disc.
PROCEDURE:
PART 1
Before conducting the experiment, the mass of each disc and the pendulum bob should be
determined, and the dimensions of the discs should be checked. Additionally, the distance of the
center of the pendulum bob from the center of the disc axle should be measured when it has been
fitted for Part 2.
Table 1 showing the known properties of the discs.
Known
Variables Large disc Small disc
Diameter of
disc 150.0 100.0
Thickness of
disc 22.5 20.0
Diameter of
shaft 12.5 12.5
Protruding
length 131.0 131.0
Mass of disc
(kg) 3.2 1.4

Figure 1 Inclined plane of rolling disc

The inclined plane was placed on a firm bench, and the support rod was adjusted using the
thumbscrew until the plane was roughly level.
The spirit level was laid across the two rails, and the levelling feet were adjusted to level them.
The spirit level was placed along one rail, and the support rod was adjusted to level the rail.
The height from the bench to the underside of the front rail at each end was measured and
recorded in Table 1.
The larger disc was put on the rails at the support rod end, and its position was marked. A similar
mark was made 1.2 meters along the rail.
The disc was removed, and that end of the rails was raised about 40 mm, fixing the support rod
accordingly.
The heights at each end of the underside of the front rail were measured and recorded.
The larger disc was placed on the high end of the rails, and the axle was lined up perpendicular
to the rails, holding it while preparing to use the stopwatch.
The time taken for the released disc to roll itself 1.2 m down the inclined rails was measured.
This was repeated using the smaller disc, and the results were recorded in Table 1.
The rails were raised about a further 40 mm, and the height and time measurements were
repeated.
This was repeated twice more, obtaining four sets of readings altogether in addition to the level
datum heights.
PART 2
The knife-edge apparatus was placed on a firm bench.
The spirit level was laid across the base in line with two of the feet and used to level the base.
The spirit level was put at right angles to its first position and the third foot was used to finish
levelling the base.
The pendulum and bob were fitted to the large disc and the disc was placed with its axle
perpendicular to the knife-edges.
The assembly was checked to ensure that it could oscillate gently and freely on the knife-edges.
The length of the pendulum was measured and noted.
Using the stopwatch, a counted number of small amplitude oscillations of the assembly were
timed as directed in Table 2.
The time was recorded in Table 2.
The pendulum was transferred to the small disc and the whole procedure was repeated.
Figure 2, DISC pendulum
 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Table 1 showing the all the calculated values
m m mm

Overall 1.57 Length of 1.2 1200

length of rails
rails
Table 1

Inclination of rails Rolling times

Support end Feet end b Difference h Height for Log H Large disc Small disc
a (mm) (mm) (mm) 1.2m H (mm)
t(s) log t large t(s) log t small
disc disc
55 48 - Level - - - - -

95 48 40 30.57 1.485295439 27.9 1.445604203 18.3 1.26245109

134 48 79 60.38 1.780893109 19.06 1.280122896 12.2 1.086359831

175 48 120 91.72 1.962464046 14.6 1.164352856 9.6 0.982271233

215 48 160 122.29 2.087390945 12.6 1.100370545 8.1 0.908485019

                 

Plot of Log T against Log H

Log t vs Log H
12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Log H log t large disc

Linear (log t large disc) log t small disc
Linear (log t small disc)
PART 2 Oscillating disc
The procedure for part 2 was followed to produce the following results.

Pendulum length 128 mm

Table 2
Large disc Small disc
No of swings Time t
No of swings (n) Time t (s) (n) (s)
4 7.0 20 19.4
6 10.9 15 14.4
8 14.4 15 14.4
10 18.3 10 9.6
10 18.5 20 19.6
6 10.9 20 19.7
8 14.6 10 9.8
10 18.5 10 9.6
4 7.1 15 14.8
 6 10.9 10 9.8

Column1 Column2
T 0.972965517
Ip 1.61836E-07

mgl 148170.24

Calculations
Icylinder = ½Mr²
= ½(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.2 m)^2)(0.01 m)^2
= 0.0087355 kg m^2
Assuming the protruding axles are also cylinders, the moment of inertia of each axle can be
calculated as:
Iaxle = ½Mr²
= ½(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.02 m)^2)(0.15 m)^2
= 0.00222675 kg m^2

Assuming the coned end can be approximated as a cone, the moment of inertia of the coned end
can be calculated as:
Icone = 3/10Mh^2 + 3/20Mr^2
= 3/10(7850 kg/m^3)(1/3(0.02 m)(0.05 m)^2)(0.15 m)^2 + 3/20(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.05 m)^2)
(0.15 m)^2
= 0.0003425625 kg m^2

The total moment of inertia of the disc and protruding axles (I) can be calculated using the
parallel axis theorem:
I = Icylinder + 2(Iaxle + m(I - r)^2) + Icone
= 0.0087355 kg m^2 + 2(0.00222675 kg m^2 + 1.5 kg((0.15 m) - (0.1 m))^2) + 0.0003425625
kg m^2
= 0.0238124375 kg m^2

Substituting the values of T, mgl, Ip, Ibob, and I into the equation for I, we get:

I = ((T^2mgl)/(4π²)) - Mr² - Ibob - m(I - r)²

= ((0.972965517^2)(148170.24))/(4π²) - (0.1^2) - 9 - (1.5*((0.15 - 0.1)^2))
= 0.0237128082 kg m^2
Moment of inertia
2
m oment of enertia ( I )=0.5 ×mass × r
2
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×0.312 kg ×75 mm
moment of enertia ( I ) =2.925 kg m 2

 Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r² = 0.000252 kg m²

moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×mass × r 2

moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×0.129 kg × 6.25 mm2
2
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.000252 kg m

 Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01296 L = 0.102 kg

 Protruding axles (2x):
Height (h) = protruding length = 131.0 mm

Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 6.25 mm

Volume = πr²h = 16429.8 mm³ = 0.01643 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01643 L = 0.129 kg

Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r² = 0.000252 kg m²

 Coned end (estimated):

Height (h) = 22.5 mm (same as disc thickness)
 Radius at top (r1) = 75.0 mm (same as disc radius)

Radius at bottom (r2) = 15.0 mm (estimated)

Volume = (1/3) * π * h * (r1² + r1r2 + r2²) = 12960.2 mm³ = 0.01296 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01296 L = 0.102 kg

Moment of inertia (I) = (1/10) * mass * (3r1² + 3r2² + 2r1r2) = 0.105 kg m²

mass=density × volume
3
mass=7850 kg /m ×0.0 1296 l
mass=0.102 kg

Total moment of inertia of large disc = 2 * 0.000252 kg m² + 0.105 kg m² + 2.925 kg m²

= 3.205 kg m²

For the small disc:

 Cylinder:
Height (h) = thickness of disc = 20.0 mm

Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 50.0 mm

Volume = πr²h = 15708.9 mm³ = 0.01571 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01571 L = 0.123 kg

 Protruding axles (2x):

Height (h) = protruding length = 131.0 mm
Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 6.25 mm
Volume = πr²h = 16429.8 mm³ = 0.01643 L
Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01643 L = 0.129 kg
Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r²
= 0.773 kg m²
The total moment of inertia of the small disc including the coned end is:
I_small = (1/2)M_r^2 + M_disc(R_disc^2 + (h_disc/12)^2) + I_cone
= (1/2)(1.4 kg)(0.131 m)^2 + (1.4 kg)(0.05 m)^2 + (4.16e-8 kg m^2)
= 0.0002123 kg m^2