PHYS 2202 LAB: Physics II

Week 03
Rotational Motion and Moment of Inertia
by
[Insert Student’s Name]

Due Date:
Objective
We have performed this lab to experimentally determine the moment of inertia of a
body about an axis as well as to compare the experimental results with the
theoretical values computed from the mass and dimensions of the body.
Equipment Used
 Meter stick
 stop watch
 trip scale balance
 suitable weights
 table clamp
 one-meter support rod
 two right angle clamps
 pulleys
Introduction
Moment of inertia of a body A having a moment of inertia I 1 is calculated from the
equation,

( )
2
2 g t1
I 1=m 1 r −1 …..(1)
2h

In case of a regular geometrical mass B having a moment of inertia I 2, the total

moment of inertia of the system is calculated from the equation,

( )
2
2 gt2
I 1+ I 2=m 2 r −1 … ..(2)
2h
where m→ mass of body, r → radius of the shaft, t → time of fall, h → displacement
M r2
Moment of inertia of disk of mass M: I =
2
M 2 2
Moment of inertia of ring of mass M: I = (r +r )
2 1 2
 Figure 1: Experimental Setup diagram
Procedure
We will measure the diameter 2r of the shaft with the Vernier Caliper to find the
radius of shaft of the metal cross. We will record the mass under mfric for the metal
cross. We will attach an additional mass m1=100 g to the cord and will record the
time t 1 and the height h of the release of the mass. We will calculate the moment of
inertia of the metal cross I 1 using eq (1). We will place a metal disk on the metal
cross and will attach a weight (between 10-50 g) to the clip and will record the mass
under mfric for (metal-cross +disk). We will add a mass m2 (200 to 800 gm) and
observe time of fall t 2 over the distance h. We will record the mass, height and time
of fall for the three trials for the masse (500g). Next, we will find and record the
moment of inertia or the disk + metal cross I 1+ I 2 from eq (2) and the moment of the
inertia of disk I 2. We will also record any error calculations observed. We will repeat
the above part for 200g, 400 g and 1000g masses and will record the results. Finally,
we will find the moment of inertia of a metal ring by recording mass under m fric and
using 1000g weight and recording observations for 4 trials.
Data Analysis
Finding the radius of shaft of the metal cross
Obtained Reading: 23.675 mm = 0.023675m
Zero Error: 0.675*0.05 = 0.03375 mm
r = 23.675 ± 0.03375 mm
Finding the Moment of Inertia of the Metal Cross
mfric =10 g

Error = 0.1%
mfric without error=9.99 g
Additional Mass Observations
m1=100 g=0.1kg
h=150 cm=1.5 m
Time of fall t 1: 3.4 seconds
Moment of Inertia of the metal cross:

(
g t 21
) ( )
2
2 2 9.81∗ ( 3.4 )
I 1=m1 r −1 =0.1∗( 0.023675 ) −1 =0. 00206 kg m2
2h 2∗1.5
Moment of inertia of a metal disk
Mass of the metal disk: 4.4kg
mfric =20 g

Error = 0.1%
mfric without error=1 9.9 8 g
Mass 1:
m2=500 g=0.5 kg

Height of release for run 1 h : 150cm = 1.5m

Height of release for run 2 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Time of fall for run 1 t 2: 6.1s
Time of fall for run 2 t 2: 6.0s
Moment of inertia of the disk + metal cross:

I 1+ I 2=m2 r
g t 22
2h
2
−1( )
For trial 1:

( )
2
2 9.81∗6.1
I 1+ I 2=0.5∗0.023675 −1 =0.03381
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03381
0.00206+ I 2=0.03381
2
I 2=0.03175 kg m
For trial 2:

( )
2
2 9.81∗6.0
I 1+ I 2=0.5∗0.023675 −1 =0.03271
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03271
0.00206+ I 2=0.03271

I 2=0.03065 kg m 2
Mass 2:
m2=200 g=0.2 kg

Height of release for run 1 h : 150cm = 1.5m

Height of release for run 2 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 3 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Time of fall for run 1 t 2: 9.8s
Time of fall for run 2 t 2: 9.1s
Time of fall for run 3 t 2: 9.2s
Moment of inertia of the disk + metal cross:
 ( )
2
2 gt2
I 1+ I 2=m2 r −1
2h
For trial 1:

( )
2
2 9.81∗9.8
I 1+ I 2=0.2∗0.023675 −1 =0.03509
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03509
0.00206+ I 2=0.03509

I 2=0.03303 kg m 2
For trial 2:

( )
2
2 9.81∗9.1
I 1+ I 2=0.2∗0.023675 −1 =0.03024
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03024
0.00206+ I 2=0.03024

I 2=0.02818 kg m 2
For trial 3:

( )
2
2 9.81∗9.2
I 1+ I 2=0.2∗0.023675 −1 =0.03091
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03091
0.00206+ I 2=0.03091
2
I 2=0.02885 kg m
Mass 3:
m2=400 g=0.4 kg

Height of release for run 1 h : 150cm = 1.5m

Height of release for run 2 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 3 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Time of fall for run 1 t 2: 6.6s
Time of fall for run 2 t 2: 6.9s
Time of fall for run 3 t 2: 6.7s
Moment of inertia of the disk + metal cross:

( )
2
2 gt2
I 1+ I 2=m 2 r −1
2h
For trial 1:

( )
2
2 9.81∗6.6
I 1+ I 2=0.4∗0.023675 −1 =0.03171
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03171
0.00206+ I 2=0.03171
2
I 2=0.02965 kg m
For trial 2:

I 1+ I 2=0.4∗0.023675
2
(
9.81∗6.92
2∗1.5
−1 =0.03468 )
I 1+ I 2=0.03468
0.00206+ I 2=0.03468
2
I 2=0.03262 kg m
For trial 3:

I 1+ I 2=0.4∗0.0236752 ( 9.81∗6.72
2∗1.5 )
−1 =0.03268

I 1+ I 2=0.03268
0.00206+ I 2=0.03268
2
I 2=0.03062 kg m
Mass 4:
m2=1000 g=1 kg
Height of release for run 1 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 2 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 3 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Time of fall for run 1 t 2: 4.4s
Time of fall for run 2 t 2: 4.2s
Time of fall for run 3 t 2: 4.2s
Moment of inertia of the disk + metal cross:

I 1+ I 2=m2 r
g t 22
2h
2
−1( )
For trial 1:
 ( )
2
2 9.81∗4.4
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.023675 −1 =0.03492
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03492
0.00206+ I 2=0.03492
2
I 2=0.03286 kg m
For trial 2:

( )
2
9.81∗4.2
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.0236752 −1 =0.03177
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03177
0.00206+ I 2=0.03177
2
I 2=0.02971 kg m
For trial 3:

( )
2
9.81∗4.2
2
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.023675 −1 =0.03177
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.03177
0.00206+ I 2=0.03177
2
I 2=0.02971 kg m
Moment of Inertia of a Metal Ring
Mass of the metal ring: 4.3kg
mfric =20 g

Mass 1:
m2=1000 g=1 kg

Height of release for run 1 h : 150cm = 1.5m

Height of release for run 2 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 3 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Height of release for run 4 h : 150cm = 1.5m
Time of fall for run 1 t 2: 7.9s
Time of fall for run 2 t 2: 7.9s
Time of fall for run 3 t 2: 8.0s
Time of fall for run 4 t 2: 8.1s
Moment of inertia of the ring + metal cross:

( )
2
gt2 2
I 1+ I 2=m2 r −1
2h
For trial 1:

( )
2
2 9.81∗7.9
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.023675 −1 =0.11382
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.11382
0.00206+ I 2=0.11382

I 2=0.11176 kg m 2
For trial 2:

( )
2
2 9.81∗7.9
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.023675 −1 =0.11382
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.11382
0.00206+ I 2=0.11382
2
I 2=0.11176 kg m

For trial 3:

( )
2
9.81∗8.0
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.0236752 −1 =0.11674
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.11674
0.00206+ I 2=0.11674

I 2=0.11468 kg m 2
For trial 4:

( )
2
9.81∗8.1
I 1+ I 2=1∗0.0236752 −1 =0.11969
2∗1.5
I 1+ I 2=0.11969
0.00206+ I 2=0.11969

I 2=0.11763 kg m 2
Uncertainty Measurement:
Error associated in recording the height Δ h=1 cm
So, the height of release will be h ± Δ h = 149cm or 151cm
Error compensated moment of inertia of the metal cross:

( ) ( )
2 2
2 gt1 2 9.81∗( 3.4 ) 2
Δ I 1=m1 r −1 =0.1∗( 0.023675 ) −1 =0.00204 kg m
2h 2∗1.51
So, the error compensated calculation for the moment of inertia of metal disk for Trial
1 will be:

( )
2
9.81∗6.1
Δ I 1 + Δ I 2=0.5∗0.023675 2 −1 =0.03359
2∗1.51
Δ I 1 + Δ I 2=0.03359
0.00204+ Δ I 2=0.03359
2
Δ I 2=0.03152 kg m
Now, the relative error will be:
Δ I 2 0.03152
= =0.9927
I 2 0.03175
Since, the value of the relative error is high, so it indicates that the two values are
quite close to each other which verified our results.
Percent error will be:
Δ I2
% I 2= ∗100=99.27 %
I2

Similarly, uncertainty measurements can be done for the other trials of metal disk.
Now, the error compensated calculation for the moment of inertia of metal ring for
Trial 1 will be:

( )
2
9.81∗7.9
2
Δ I 1 + Δ I 2=1∗0.023675 −1 =0.11307
2∗1.51
Δ I 1 + Δ I 2=0.11307
0.0020 4 + Δ I 2=0.11307

Δ I 2=0.11103 kg m2
Now, the relative error will be:
Δ I 2 0.11103
= =0.975
I 2 0.11382
Since, the value of the relative error is high, so it indicates that the two values are
quite close to each other which verified our results.
Percent error will be:
 Δ I2
% I 2= ∗100=97 .5 %
I2
Similarly, uncertainty measurements can be done for the other trials of metal ring.
Comparison with theoretical values
M r2
Moment of inertia of disk of mass M: I =
2
From metal-disk-diameter-left-reading.jpg and metal-disk-diameter-right-reading.jpg,
the diameter of the metal disk is 25.4cm. The radius of the metal disk will be 12.7cm
= 0.127m. The error associated with the radius measurement is ±0.1cm.
Mass of the metal disk is 4.4kg. So, the theoretical moment of inertia for the metal
disk is:
4.4 (0.127)2
I= =0.0354838 kg m2
2
M 2 2
Moment of inertia of ring of mass M: I = (r +r )
2 1 2
From metal-ring-outer-diameter-right.jpg, metal-ring-outer-diameter-right2.jpg, metal-
ring-outer-diameter-left.jpg and metal-ring-outer-diameter-left2.jpg, the outer
diameter of the metal ring is 25.4cm and the inner diameter of the metal ring is
20.8cm. The outer radius of the metal disk will be 12.7cm = 0.127m. The inner radius
of the metal disk will be 10.4cm = 0.104m. The error associated with the inner and
outer radius measurement is ±0.1cm.
Mass of the metal ring is 4.3kg. So, the theoretical moment of inertia for the metal
ring is:
4. 3 2 2
I= (0 .127+0.104) =0.11472615kg m
2
Analysis
The experimental moment of inertia I 2 for the metal disk was found to be around
0.03275 after taking the average of all trials done. So, the error estimation between
the theoretical and experimental values will be,
Theoretical value−Experimental value
%error =
Theoretical value
0.0354838−0.03275
¿ =0.07704
0.0354838
The experimental moment of inertia I 2 for the metal ring was found to be around
0.11382. So, the error estimation between the theoretical and experimental values
will be,
Theoretical value−Experimental value
%error =
Theoretical value
 0.11472615−0. 11382
¿ =0.00789
0.11472615
So, the conducted experiment is quite successful since, the theoretical and
experimental moment of inertias are quite close to each other with 0.07 % error in
between them.
Questions Answers
Question 1:
The two sources/causes of the friction in the experiment are crossbar and its
bearings which will offer resistance to rotation.
Question 2:
The velocity of the motion of the cross will decrease if the center of mass of the body
were to one side of the axis of rotation. Because the center of the mass of an object
is the point where uniform force on the object exists, so if the center of mass of the
body were to one side of the axis of rotation, the velocity of the motion of the cross
will decrease since the pure rotational motion will compromise.
Question 3:
The time to reach the mass to the ground will increase if the shaft on which the string
is wound were slightly eccentric because if the shaft on which the string is wound
were not placed centrally, because the metal cross connected to the shaft will not
rotate correctly.
Question 4:
t (time) is the least precise due to the fact that it may incur systematic error. The
source of this systematic error will be the clock measuring the time it takes mass to
reach the ground. Error in m and h will be less in magnitude than t.
Conclusion
This lab was done to experimentally determine the moment of inertia of a body about
an axis as well as to compare the experimental results with the theoretical values
computed from the mass and dimensions of the body. We have completed all the
parts of the lab and included all the results in the data section of the report along with
the uncertainty measurements and comparison with theoretical values. The formulas

( ) ( )
2 2 2
2 g t1 2 gt2 Mr M 2 2
used in the lab were I 1=m1 r −1 , I 1+ I 2=m2 r −1 , I = and I = (r 1 +r 2)
2h 2h 2 2
to calculate the moment of inertias of metal cross, metal disk and metal ring
individually. The experimental results were verified with the comparison with
theoretical values.