Moment of Inertia

Moment of Inertia Defined

The moment of inertia measures the resistance to a

change in rotation.
Change in rotation from torque
Moment of inertia I = mr2 for a single mass

The total moment of inertia is due to the sum of

masses at a distance from the axis of rotation.
N

I mi ri 2
i 1

Two Spheres

A spun baton has a moment

of inertia due to each
separate mass.
I = mr2 + mr2 = 2mr2

If it spins around one end,

only the far mass counts.
I = m(2r)2 = 4mr2

Mass at a Radius

Extended objects can be

treated as a sum of small
masses.

I (Dm)r

A straight rod (M) is a set of

identical masses Dm.
distance r to r+Dr

length L

The total moment of inertia is

Each mass element

contributes
Dm ( M / L)Dr

I ( M / L) r 2 Dr
The sum becomes an
integral
L

I ( M / L) r 2 dr
0

axis

I ( M / L)(L3 / 3) (1 / 3) ML2

Rigid Body Rotation

The moments of inertia for many shapes can found

by integration.
Ring or hollow cylinder: I = MR2
Solid cylinder: I = (1/2) MR2
Hollow sphere: I = (2/3) MR2
Solid sphere: I = (2/5) MR2

Point and Ring

The point mass, ring and

hollow cylinder all have the
same moment of inertia.

I = MR2

The rod and rectangular

plate also have the same
moment of inertia.
I = (1/3) MR2

All the mass is equally far

away from the axis.

The distribution of mass from

the axis is the same.
M

M
M

length R
axis

length R

Playground Ride

A child of 180 N sits at the

edge of a merry-go-round
with radius 2.0 m and mass
160 kg.
What is the moment of
inertia, including the child?

Id = (1/2)Mr2 = 320 kg m2

Treat the child as a point

mass.
W = mg, m = W/g = 18 kg.
Ic = mr2 = 72 kg m2

Assume the merry-go-round

is a disk.

The total moment of inertia is

the sum.
I = Id + Ic = 390 kg m2

Parallel Axis Theorem

Some objects dont rotate

about the axis at the center
of mass.

The moment of inertia for a

rod about its center of mass:
h = R/2

The moment of inertia

depends on the distance
between axes.

I I CM Mh 2

M
axis

(1 / 3) MR 2 I CM M ( R / 2) 2
I CM (1 / 3) MR 2 (1 / 4) MR 2
I CM (1 / 12 ) MR 2

Perpendicular Axis Theorem

Iy = (1/12) Ma2

Ix = (1/12) Mb2
M
a

Iz = (1/12) M(a2 + b2)

For flat objects the rotational

moment of inertia of the axes
in the plane is related to the
moment of inertia
perpendicular to the plane.

Iz Ix Iy

Spinning Coin

What is the moment of

inertia of a coin of mass M
and radius R spinning on
one edge?

Id = (1/2) MR2

R
M

R
Id

Ie

The moment of inertia of a

spinning disk perpendicular
to the plane is known.

The disk has two equal axes

in the plane.
The perpendicular axis
theorem links these.
Id = Ie + Ie = (1/2) MR2
Ie = (1/4) MR2

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