Rotational Inertia EX-9936

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ROTATIONAL INERTIA
Equipment

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

INCLUDED:
Large Triangle Rod Stand
90 cm Long Steel Rod
Mini-Rotational Accessory
Mass Set (5 g resolution)
Rotary Motion Sensor
Mass Balance (not supplied)
Calipers (not supplied)
Ring
Disk
NOT INCLUDED, BUT REQUIRED:
Computer Interface
Data Studio Software

ScienceWorkshop
ME-8735
ME-8738
CI-6691
ME-9348
CI-6538
SE-8723
SE-8711

PASPORT
ME-8735
ME-8738
CI-6691
ME-9348
PS-2120
SE-8723
SE-8711

CI-6400
CI-6870

PS-2100
CI-6870

Introduction
The purpose of this experiment is to find the rotational inertia of a ring and a disk
experimentally and to verify that these values correspond to the calculated theoretical values. A
known torque is applied to the pulley on the Rotary Motion Sensor, causing a disk and ring to
rotate. The resulting angular acceleration is measured using the slope of a graph of angular
velocity versus time. The rotational inertia of the disk and ring combination is calculated from
the torque and the angular acceleration. The procedure is repeated for the disk alone to find the
rotational inertias of the ring and disk separately.
Theory
Theoretically, the rotational inertia, I, of a ring is given by
I

1
M R12 R22
2

(1)

where M is the mass of the ring, R1 is the inner radius of the ring, and R2 is the outer radius of the
ring. The rotational inertia of a disk is given by
I

Written by Ann Hanks

1
MR 2
2

(2)

where M is the mass of the disk and R is the radius of the disk.
To find the rotational inertia of the ring and disk experimentally, a known torque is applied to the
ring and disk, and the resulting angular acceleration, , is measured. Since = I,

(3)
where is the torque caused by the weight hanging from the string which is wrapped around
the 3-step pulley of the apparatus.
=rT

(4)

where r is the radius of the pulley about which the string is wound and F is the tension in the
string when the apparatus is rotating. Also, a=r, where "a" is the linear acceleration of the
string.

Rotational Inertia EX-9936

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Applying Newton's Second Law for the hanging mass, m, gives (See Figure 2)
F mg F ma

(5)

F
a

mg

Figure 2: Rotational Apparatus and Free-Body Diagram

Solving for the tension in the string gives F m(g a) .
(6)
Once the linear acceleration of the mass (m) is determined, the torque and the angular
acceleration can be obtained for the calculation of the rotational inertia.

Written by Ann Hanks

Rotational Inertia EX-9936

SET-UP for PASPORT Sensors

1. Set up the rotational apparatus as shown in
Figure 3. The thread should be tied around the
smallest step on the Rotary Motion Sensor
pulley, threaded down through the edge hole,
and wrapped around the middle step of the
pulley.
2. Plug the Rotary Motion Sensor into Explorer
GLX or PASPORT Interface channel 1
3. Plug Computer interface into Explorer with USB
Cable.
4. Run DataStudio on the computer and open the
file called "Rotational Inertia (PP)".
5. Definitly data which in explorer GLX same with
Data Studio.
Figure 3: Setup

Written by Ann Hanks

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Rotational Inertia EX-9936

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PROCEDURE
A.

B.

MEASUREMENTS FOR THE THEORETICAL ROTATIONAL INERTIA

1. Find the masses of the ring and the disk using the mass balance.
2. Find the masses of the mass set using the mass balance.
3. Measure the inside and outside diameters and calculate the radial R1 and R2 and R.
MEASUREMENTS FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
1. FINDING THE ACCELERATION OF THE RING AND DISK
(a)
Put the ring and disk on the Rotary Motion Sensor. To find the acceleration of
this combination, put about 20 g over the pulley and record the angular velocity
versus time on a graph as the mass falls to the table.
(b)
Use the curve fit button on the graph to find the straight line that best fits the
data. Use the mouse to select the part of the graph where the mass was falling,
so the line will be fitted only to this part of the data.
(c)
The slope of the best-fit line is the angular acceleration of the apparatus.
Record this acceleration.
(d)
Repeat procedure point (a)-(c) with load masses 5 gr.
(d)
Remove the ring and load masses 5 gr, repeat this procedure with only the disk
on the Rotary Motion
2. FINDING THE ACCELERATION OF THE ROTARY MOTION SENSOR
In Step 1 the Rotary Motion Sensor is rotating as well as the ring and disk. It is
necessary to determine the acceleration, and the rotational inertia, of the Rotary Motion
Sensor by itself so this rotational inertia can be subtracted from the total, leaving only
the rotational inertia of the ring and disk. To do this, take the ring and disk off the
rotational apparatus and repeat Step 1 for the Rotary Motion Sensor alone. Note that it
is only necessary to put about 5 g over the pulley in Step 1.

Written by Ann Hanks

Rotational Inertia EX-9936

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CALCULATIONS
1.

Calculate the experimental value of the rotational inertia of the ring, load masses 5 gr,
disk, and Rotary Motion Sensor together using Equations (3), (4), and (5).

2.

Calculate the experimental value of the rotational inertia of the disk and Rotary Motion
Sensor together using Equations (3), (4), and (5).

3.

Calculate the experimental value of the rotational inertia of the Rotary Motion Sensor
alone using Equations (3), (4), and (5).

4.

Calculate the theoretical values of the rotational inertia of the ring and disk using
Equations (1), and (2).

5.

Use percent differences to compare the experimental values to the theoretical values.
% difference

Experimental Theoretical
x100
Theoretical

6. Draw the graph of motion from Data Studio in report.

PRELIMINARY TASK
1. A system consists of two block m1 and m2 which tied to a
hollow cylindrical of pulley. in th first block rope is wound
on the outside of cylinder, and the second block is wound
on the inside of cylinder, as shown. If the known the mass
of 6 kg in th first block, a second block the mass of 9 kg,
outer radius of pulley 30 cm, inner radius of the of pulley 20
cm, 2 kg the mass of of pulley, gravity 9.8 N / kg, determine
the angular acceleration in this system and determine the
direction of rotation in this system!

m1

Written by Ann Hanks

m2

Rotational Inertia EX-9936

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2. If the system at number 1, the system rotates counter-clockwise with an angular

acceleration of 5 rad / s2, gravity was considered 10 N / kg, 6 kg the mass of first block,
the second block the mass of 9 kg, outer radius of pulley cylinder 30 cm, while the
inner radius of inside 15 cm, determine the mass of the pulley !
3. A rigid ball rolled perfectly (without slip) on an inclined plane with slope . If a ball
mass of 2 kg with a radius of 10 cm, determine the linear acceleration the ball down the
inclineand Show step by step! (acceleration of gravity 10 N / kg and tan = 21/72)

Written by Ann Hanks