Kabir Bhasin

SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

B1: Moments of Inertia 2

Introduction:...................................................................................................................2!
Aim: ...............................................................................................................................2!
Method: ..........................................................................................................................2!
Equipment Required: .................................................................................................3!
Rolling Disc Down Slope ..........................................................................................3!
Pendulum Swing Test/ Oscillating Disc ....................................................................3!
Calculations of Moment of Inertia .............................................................................3!
Results:...........................................................................................................................4!
Calculations Rolling Disc Down a Slope:...................................................................6!
a.)! Volume of Material in Discs..............................................................................6!
Small Disc:.............................................................................................................6!
Large Disc:.............................................................................................................6!
b.)! Mass of Discs:....................................................................................................7!
Small Disc ..............................................................................................................7!
Large Disc ..............................................................................................................7!
c.)! Moment of Inertia of Discs ................................................................................7!
Small Disc ..............................................................................................................7!
Large Discs ............................................................................................................8!
Calculations Pendulum Swing Test/ Oscillating Disc ................................................8!
Small Disc ..................................................................................................................8!
Large Disc ..................................................................................................................8!
Calculations Theoretical Moments of Inertia..............................................................9!
Small Disc ..................................................................................................................9!
Large Disc ..................................................................................................................9!
Discussion: ...................................................................................................................10!
Small Disc ................................................................................................................10!
Large Disc ................................................................................................................10!
Overall......................................................................................................................10!
Bibliography.................................................................................................................11!

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

!"#$%&'(#)%"*+
When making machinery, sometimes it is important to know the value of the moment
of inertia (the resistance to rotation of a body) of part. This can be calculated
theoretically for simple shapes, but for more advanced shapes, tests have to be carried
out and an experimental value would have to be calculated.

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The aim of this experiment is to work out the moment of inertia of 2 discs using two
different methods (rolling discs down a slop and a pendulum swing test) and
comparing the value obtained with the theoretical values.

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Inclined Plane
(1.2m)

Set up the apparatus as shown:

Measuring
Instruments

FIGURE 1 Rolling Disc Experiment

FIGURE 2 Oscillating Disc Experiment

Large Steel Disc

Small Steel Disc

Knife Edged
Apparatus

Attachable
Pendulum

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

12')3-/"#+4/2')$/&*+

Inclined plane (as shown above)

Large and Small steel discs (made from Steel)
Attachable pendulum (made from Cast Iron)
Stop-watch
Ruler
Spirit level
Digital callipers

Firstly, the Measurements of the Large and Small Disc, and the pendulum, need to be
recorded, using digital callipers (as Shown in the Results section below).

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(Use Discs when pendulum is not attached)
1. Place the inclined plane on a firm bench, and level it (using a spirit level), so
that when the disc is placed on it, it will not roll.
2. Adjust the plane (using a spirit level) so that when a disc rolls down it, it will
stay centre.
3. Measure the distance from the edge of the disc (at the starting position) to the
point where it stops (in this case it was 1.2m).
4. Now raise the starting end of the plane by 30mm, so that it is angled. Then
place the large disc at this point, and let it go, measuring the time taken for it
to reach the bottom (without the disc hitting the sides).
5. After taking the readings, do the same for the small disc.
6. Then repeat the procedure for a height up to 105mm, in increments of 15mm.

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(For this attach pendulum to the discs)
1. Place the apparatus on a firm bench, and level it using a spirit level.
2. Attach Pendulum to the Large Disc, and make sure the axel is perpendicular to
the knife-edge, and make sure the pendulum can swing freely.
3. Displace the pendulum by less than 30, and measure the time taken for the
pendulum to swing 5 oscillations.
4. Repeat this 5 times.
5. Then attach the pendulum to the small disc, and repeat the procedure.

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1. Calculate volume of material in discs
2. Use this information and density of the discs to calculate mass.
3. Use the mass and information obtained to calculate moment of inertia for the 2
discs.
4. Use the exact measurements of the discs and axels to calculate theoretical
moment of inertia.

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

4/8'5#8*+
First, the Measurements of the Discs were taken:
FIGURE 3 Small Disc Dimensions

FIGURE 4 Large Disc Dimensions

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

FIGURE 5 Pendulum Dimensions

After Taking the Dimensions, the result could be taken down (as shown in the tables
below):

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

@?5('5?#)%"8+B+4%55)"6+7)8(+7%9"+?+:5%3/*+
After obtaining the raw data, some calculations could be done (as shown below). But
First a graph of the results were plotted, so that the Moment of Inertia for the Discs
could easily be calculated.

[In all calculations the Pendulum rod is considered light, i.e. mass is negligible]

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:-?55+7)8(*+

1
2
2
2
VS = ["rrod (lrod1 + lrod 2 )] + ["rdisc # ldisc ] + [ "rrod # hcone ]
3
1
= [" (6.285) 2 # (65.0 + 65.36)] + [" (50.005) 2 # (20.12)] + [ " (6.285) 2 # (8.02)]
3
3
= 174534.2763 mm
= 1.7453 #10$4 m3 (4dp)

F?$6/+7)8(*+

1
2
2
2
VL = ["rrod (lrod1 + lrod 2 )] + ["rdisc # ldisc ] + [ "rrod # hcone ]
3
1
= [" (6.245) 2 # (63.49 + 64.56)] + [" (75.115) 2 # (22.56)] + [ " (6.245) 2 # (7.32)]
3
3
= 400190.6064 mm
= 4.0019 #10$4 m3 (4dp)

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

;/"&'5'-+G%H+

#1
&
VBOB = ["r 2 h1 ] + % "r 2 h2 (
$3
'
#1
&
= [" (14.34) 2 (16.14) + 2% " (14.34) 2 (8.05)(
$3
'
= 13893.80756

Assume the bob attached to

rod is symmetrical hence 2
cones for volume

= 1.3894 )10*5 m3 (4dp)

HCD .?88+%A+7)8(8*+
:-?55+7)8(+
MassS , M S = " steel # VS

= 7850kg /m 3 # (1.7453 #10$4 )m 3

= 1.3701kg (4dp)

+
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MassL , M L = " steel # VL

= 7850kg /m 3 # (2.1593 #10$4 )m 3

= 1.6951kg (4dp)

;/"&'5'-+G%H+
MassBOB , M BOB = "CastIron # VBOB
= 7300kg /m 3 # (1.3894 #10$5 )m 3
= 0.1014kg (4dp)

Density of Cast Iron ranges

from 6800 to 7800 kg/m3.
Therefore use average of 7300
kg/m3

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:-?55+7)8(+

# gk &
Moment of Inertia, IS = M S rS 2 % 2 "1(
$ 2L
'
#(9.81)(0.0415) &
= (1.3701)(0.006285) 2 %
"1(
2(1.2) 2
$
'
= "4.6470 )10"5 kg.m2 (4dp)

!
7

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

F?$6/+7)8(8+

&
2 # gk
Moment of Inertia, IL = M L rL % 2 "1(
$ 2L
'
#(9.81)(0.0981) &
= (1.6951)(0.00645) 2 %
"1(
$ 2(1.2) 2
'
= "4.6956 )10"5 kg.m2 (4dp)

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Using the Swing Test, the Theoretical Moment of Inertia can be calculated using the
following equation:

+
Moment of Inertia of Disc, I =

T 2 mgLO
2
# IBOB # mLO
4" 2

IBOB = 0.35mrs2
&
& 2
& 1 2 ))) 2
IBOB = 0.35( $ castiron % ( "rs h + 2( "rs h +++ rs
'3
***
'
'
&
&
&1
)))
= 0.35( 7800 % (" (0.01434) 2 (0.01614) + 2( " (0.01434) 2 (0.00805)+++(0.01434) 2
'3
***
'
'
= 0.35(0.1084)(0.01434) 2
IBOB = 7.8018 %10#6 kg.m2 (4dp)

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(0.92) 2 (1.3701)(9.81)(0.07557)
# (7.8018 $10#6 ) # (1.3701)(0.07557) 2
2
4"
2
= 0.0139 kg.m (4dp)

IS =

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(1.88) 2 (1.6951)(9.81)(0.07557)
# (7.8018 $10#6 ) # (1.6951)(0.07557) 2
2
4"
2
= 0.1028 kg.m (4dp)

IS =

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

@?5('5?#)%"8+B+<0/%$/#)(?5+.%-/"#8+%A+!"/$#)?+
+

:-?55+7)8(+

IS = (0.5)MSrS

= (0.5)(1.3701)(0.006285) 2
= 2.7060 "10#5 kg.m2 (4dp)

F?$6/+7)8(+
IL = (0.5)M LrL

= (0.5)(1.6951)(0.00645) 2
= 3.5260 "10#5 kg.m2 (4dp)

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

7)8('88)%"*+
:-?55+7)8(+
The experiment showed two different ways of measuring moments of inertia, rolling
discs down a slope and by oscillating the disc using a pendulum. By using the results
from both the experiments to calculate the moments of inertia for the large and small
discs, different values were obtained. Firstly, the slope experiment gave negative
moments of inertia, which would suggest that the inertia was aiding the disc to roll
down, which is not possible, as moment of inertia is described as the resistance to
change in rotation. The problem with the value could be due to errors in the
measuring apparatus. However, when working out the moment of inertia using the
values from the oscillating disc experiment, a reasonable value of 0.0139 kg.m2 was
achieved. This would have meant that there was resistance to the change in rotation,
just as the definition of inertia describes.
However, according to the theoretical moment of inertia, the calculated inertia was
too large. This could be due to the fact that the theoretical value simplifies the inertia
too much, and doesnt take account for all variables.

F?$6/+7)8(+
The calculated values for this experiment had the same general pattern as that of the
small disc. The rolling slope experiment gave a negative value, whereas, the
oscillating disc experiment gave a decent value for the moment of inertia of 0.1028
kg.m2. However, once again, the experimental value was too large for the theoretical
value.

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All results do have one correlation: the larger, heavier disc has a greater moment of
inertia than the smaller, lighter disc. This means that the large disc has a greater
resistance to change in rotation, meaning that the larger disc took longer to make one
oscillation, to roll down the slope, or just generally to rotate. This is supported by the
I = " r 2 dm
general equation of Moment of Inertia,
. This shows that as the mass, and
= mr 2
radius of the disc increases (like for the large disc), then the Moment of Inertia, I, will
increase.
However, there was a problem!with the results obtained. By using such a simple
shape in the experiment, the theoretical values, and both the experimental values
should not have been very different from each other. This could be due to errors done
during the experiment or due to errors in the measuring equipment. Ways of
improving this experiment could be:
Rolling Slope Experiment:
Using laser and touch sensitive sensors connected to stopwatch to measure the
time take for the disc to be let go and to reach the end.

10

Kabir Bhasin
SN: 918601

Prof. Andrews

Also an electronic gate could be attached to hold the disc, so when it is

required to be let go, it will do so without human error (in the form of reaction
time, and altering direction of the disc).
Furthermore, supports/ guiders could be attached to the apparatus to prevent
the disc from moving sideways.

Oscillating Discs Improvements:

Using a laser sensor attached to a stopwatch to measure the time when the
pendulum reached its maximum point.
Using a protractor to make sure the angular displacement of the pendulum was
the same every time.
Using mechanical arms to hold the pendulum at its displaced angle to prevent
human error effecting the time, when releasing the pendulum.
Another improvement that could have been made is that instead of measuring the
volume by using a calliper, a eureka can could be filled with water, and the discs and
pendulums could be put in it individually, and the volume of water displaced would
provide a more accurate value for the volume. The callipers would not have been very
reliable due to the human error, when measuring the dimensions, due to the points
where the measurements were taken from, and also the callipers could have had a
slight error in them or in the digital read out.

@%"(5'8)%"*+
To conclude, the experiments carried out did give a general correlation where the
greater the mass and greater the radius of the object, gave a greater moment of inertia,
meaning that the resistance to change in rotation was greater. This also means that 1
oscillation, and the time to roll down a slope, is greater than that for one where an
object is lighter and has a smaller radius.
I believe that these two methods would be a very good way of calculating the moment
of inertia of objects, however, in my case, there may have been too many errors,
causing problems in the calculations. Although the oscillating disc experiment gave
better results in my experiment, I believe it would be better to use the method where
the object is rolled down a slope. I believe this because it would be easier to measure,
because trying to measure the maximum displacement of an oscillation is harder.

G)H5)%6$?30J+

Notes Provided see Appendix

Wikipedia moments of inertia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia>, [Accessed 21/02/10]
Wikipedia List of Moments of inertia,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_moments_of_inertia>, [Accessed
21/02/10]
Hyperphysics moments of inertia, <http://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/HFrame.html>, [Accessed 21/02/10]

11