INTRODUCTION

In the study of Newtonian Mechanics, Newton's law of motion applies not

only to translational linear motion but also to rotational motion of a rigid
body. The interpretation of the rotational form of Newton's law for a rigid
body about an axis is in the form:

τ = Iα

Where τ is the torque, α is the angular acceleration, and I is the mass moment
of inertia about a reference axis. Otherwise known as the second moment of
mass, moment of inertia serves as a resistance towards rotational motions of
rigid bodies. However, it is often more difficult to appreciate the physical
significance of the second moment of mass than the first moment of mass. Thus,
this laboratory session, the effect of moment of inertia on objects will be
demonstrated and investigated upon.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this experiment is:

1) To understand the effect of moment of inertia rotational motion of rigid

bodies
This is achieved by conducting the 1st experiment using the rotating-mass
Assembly system.

2) To determine the moment of inertia of sample objects

The 2nd experiment that makes use of the Trifilar suspension system will
enable us to determine the moment of some objects.

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Experimental procedures for the rotating
mass experiment

A diagram of the experimental set up is as shown below.

The 1st part of the experiment consist of 2 sections using point mass M as well as
thin disc separately on 2 different set up.

Procedures for experiment using point mass M

a) Using the setup shown below, measure on each end of the horizontal bar a
distance r = 275 mm from the centre of the spindle (axis of rotation). Secure the
two ‘point’ masses M with the grub screws aligned to this measured distance
such that their centre of mass is at r from the rotating axis.

b) Using a metal plate as a marker, wind up the applied mass m and adjust the
required height such that the bottom of the applied mass just touches the plate.

c) Release the applied mass m and let it fall through the set distance y;
observe the rotational motion of the spindle assembly and record three readings
on the timer display for this distance r.

d) Vary r by sliding the two masses inward and repeat steps (b) to (c) for r =
225mm, 175 mm, 125 mm and 75 mm, obtaining 4 more sets of readings.

e) Record the readings in the table and compute tave and the corresponding
r² and Iexp values. The radius of rotating spindle rs , height y which the applied
mass falls through, applied mass m, height of applied mass d, ‘point’ masses ML
and MR on the same table in the logsheet.

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A diagram of experimental set up using point mass (Figure 2)

Procedures for experiment using thin disc

1) Replace the two masses M with the cylindrical discs in Figure 3 below and
repeat the steps (b) to (c)
for r = 120 mm, 160 mm, 200 mm and 240 mm, obtaining a total of 4 sets of
readings.

2) Record the readings in the table and compute tave and the corresponding
r² and Iexp values. Record also, the average radius of the discs, mass of
cylindrical discs ML and MR on the logsheet.

Figure 3. Experimental set up with thin disc

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Theories involved in the rotating-mass
experiment
Moment of Inertia & Radius of Gyration

Given that a body rotates about an axis AA' (Fig 1a), and that its mass is made
up of small elements of mass *m1, *m2 , *m3…*mn ; its moment of inertia is
given by r2 m, and the resistance offered by the body is measured by the sum
r12 * m1+ r22 * m2+ r32 * m3 + ... rn2 * mn. By taking the number of elements
over a domain Ω of a body, the moment of inertia can be expressed as:

I = ∫ r 2 dm (1)
Ω

We then consider the radius of gyration r of the body to be defined as the

distance at which the entire mass of the body should be concentrated at if its
moments of inertia with respect to the axis of rotation AA' is to remain
unchanged. We can then express moment of inertia I as:

I = k2m (2)

Figure 1a Figure 1b

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Parallel Axis Theorem

The moment of inertia of a body with respect to any axis ZZ' (Fig.1b) can be
expressed as the sum of its inertia about an axis GG' parallel to ZZ' through its
centre of gravity (CG), and the square of the perpendicular distance d between
the axes :

IZ = IG + md2 (3)

Where IZ is the moment of inertia of the body about axis ZZ' and IG is the
moments of inertia about the axis GG' passing through the centre of gravity.

This theorem is useful in calculating the moment of inertia of a complex shape

which has been divided into a collection of simple ones.

THE ROTATING-MASS ASSEMBLY

The moment of inertia of objects can be experimentally determined by using the

Rotating-mass Assembly method. Figure 2 shows the experimental set-up of the
experiment.

The dynamics equation of the system is:

τ = Iα (4)
Where * is the angular acceleration of the system and * is the net torque on the
system.

The torque is applied using the mass m attached to the string wrapping around
the spindle and dropping through a distance y:

τ = r s mg (5)
α = a / rs (6)

The total moment of inertia of the system in rotation as shown can be expressed
as a function of r, which is the distance of each mass M from the axis of rotation.
Treating the masses attached on the horizontal bar as point masses, the moment
of inertia I for the system can be expressed as:

I = 2 M r2 + Ic (7)

I = 2 M r2 + Ih + Iv + Ip (8)

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 Where 2 M r 2 = moment of inertia of the two masses on the bar,
Ih = moment of inertia of the horizontal bar,
Iv = moment of inertia of the vertical spindle,
Ip = effective moment of inertia of the pulley

Derivation of the formula that can be used to calculate the moment of

inertia from the experimental results

Since the mass is released from rest and falls through a distance of y, its
acceleration can be calculated using:

a = v 2 / (2y) (9)

Where v is the velocity of the mass at the end of the fall

The angular acceleration of the system can thus be expressed as:

α = v 2 / (2yr s ) (10)

Substituting equations (7) and (10) into (6), the moment of inertia I take the form:

I = (2r s 2 y m g) / (v 2 ) (11)

Velocity of the mass passing by the photocell t is given by:

v = d/t (12)

The experimental value of the moment of inertia can be determined by

substituting equations (7) and (10) into (12). It is hence expressed as:

I exp = (2r s 2 ymgt 2 ) / d 2 (13)

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 Experimental Procedures for the Trifilar system
The trifilar suspension method shown in Fig. 4 can be used to determine the
mass and moment of inertia of an object more accurately.

The trifilar suspension (Fig 4) was mounted from a protrusion on the wall. Three
strings of equal length support a platform and were equally spaced about its
centre. The platform allowed objects, whose moment of inertia was to be
determined, to be placed on so that its centre of mass was on the same vertical
axis as that of the object.

Figure 4. The Trifilar suspension

a) Using the setup shown in Fig. 4, displace the empty platform slightly such
that it oscillates about its vertical axis with small angular displacements. Using a
stopwatch, measure the time taken for 20 oscillations.

b) Secure object 1 (cylinder) on the platform and cause it to oscillate as

above. Record the
Time taken for 20 oscillations.

c) Repeat step b) for object 2 (ring).

d) Evaluate the average period of oscillation T for the empty platform,

Cylinder and ring

Thus compute the experimental values of the moment of inertia for each case.
Record also, the distance r between the axis of rotation and point of suspension,
length of suspension L , mass of platform mp, mass of cylinder object 1, mass of
ring object 2, radius of the cylinder, outer and inner radius of the ring. Hence,

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calculate the theoretical values of the moment of inertia for the cylinder and ring.

Theories and formulas used in the Trifilar experiment

The trifilar suspension method shown in Fig. 3 can be used to determine the
mass and moment of inertia of an object more accurately.
The platform of the apparatus was displaced through a small angle * and set in
oscillation. Taking the moments about the z axis :

-r(mp + m)gsinφ - (Ip + I) α = 0

Where φ is the angular displacement of the wires,α is the angular acceleration

of the platform, Ip and I are the moments of inertia of the platform and the object
respectively.

For small angle displacements, say β , sin β ≈ β , ∴ φ = (rθ ) / L

Substituting equation (15) into (14),

α + (mp + m)gr2 θ = 0
(Ip +I)L

Since the motion is simple harmonic, the period of the motion is:

Hence the moment of inertia of the empty platform without any object on it is:

I p = T p 2 (m p gr 2 ) / 4π 2 L

The experiment is first carried out with an empty platform to determine the
moment of inertia for the empty platform and subsequently the moment of inertia
for any object can be determined by the formula below.

Where Tp is the period of oscillation for the empty platform.

The moment of inertia of the experimental objects is then:

I = [T 2 (m p + m )gr 2 / 4π 2 L] - I p

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