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 Mh2

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

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.

Ix = (1/12) Mb2
M
a

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

Iz Ix I y

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
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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