To determine the moment of inertia of a flywheel

Theory:
Practical determination of I:
If 𝑓 is the acceleration of the falling mass and 𝑇 is the tension of the thread then:
𝑚𝑔 − 𝑇 = 𝑚𝑓
Or, 𝑇 = 𝑚(𝑔 − 𝑓)………………………..(1)
Therefore torque created on the shaft of the flywheel is:
𝑁 = 𝑇𝑎 = 𝑚(𝑔 − 𝑓)𝑎 …………………………(2)
where 𝑎 is the radius of the shaft.
This torque creates angular acceleration, say 𝛼, of the flywheel and overcomes frictional torque (𝑁 )
on the flywheel arising out of the friction between the flywheel and its axel (not shown in the figure).
Therefore:
𝑁 = 𝐼𝛼 + 𝑁 …………………………(3)
where is the moment of inertia of the flywheel (including the shaft).
Also 𝛼 = 𝑓 ⁄𝑎 ……………(4)

From (2), (3) and (4): 𝑚(𝑔 − 𝑓)𝑎 = +𝑁

⇒𝑚 −1 = + …………………………….(5)

Department of Physics
Kharagpur College
2017-18, SEM-1
If 𝑡 is the time taken by the falling mass to fall a height ℎ, then:

𝑓= …………(6)

1
𝑓
s2/cm

O A 𝑔 g
𝑚 −1
𝑓

If 𝑓 for different 𝑚 are measured and a graph is plotted between 𝑚 − 1 and , then the graph will
be a straight line of slope intersecting the 𝑚 − 1 axis at a distance 𝑂𝐴 = from origin. Then:

𝐼 = 𝑂𝐴. 𝑎 …………………. (7)

Theoretical determination of I:
𝐼 can also be determined theoretically if the geometry of the flywheel including the shaft and the density
of their material are known. If the flywheel has the shape (view of a diametrical section) as shown in
the figure then neglecting the hole in the shaft:

d
𝑑
Body 2r 2a
Shaft Axle
l
R
Thick
central 𝛿
Rim
portion

𝐼 = 𝜋𝜌[𝑅 − (𝑅 − 𝛿) ] 𝑑 + 𝜋𝜌[(𝑅 − 𝛿) − (𝑅 − 𝑟) ] 𝑑 + 𝜋𝜌𝑟 𝑑 + 𝜋𝜌𝑎 × 2𝑙

𝐼 = 𝜋𝜌([𝑅 − (𝑅 − 𝛿) ] 𝑑 + [(𝑅 − 𝛿) − (𝑅 − 𝑟) ] 𝑑 + 𝑟 𝑑 + 𝑎 × 2𝑙) ………………….(8)

𝑅, 𝑙, 𝛿, 𝑑, 𝑑 and 𝑟 should be supplied to the students.

[Radius of the flywheel can be measured by measuring the circumference with the help of a thread. If
𝐿 be the length of 𝑁 number of turns of the thread wound on the flywheel then: 𝑅 = . 𝑙 can be
measured by a meter scale. 𝛿, 𝑑, 𝑑 , and 𝑟 can be measured by a slide callipers.]
Department of Physics
Kharagpur College
2017-18, SEM-1
Results:
(A) Radius of the shaft of the flywheel:
Table-1
V.C. of the slide callipers
…….(m) divisions of vernier = …………(n) divisions of main scale
Value of 1 s.d. of main scale Vernier constant
Value of 1 s.d. of vernier 𝑙 = 𝑙 (cm)
𝑙 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑙 − 𝑙 (cm)

Table-2
Radius of the shaft
Mean Corrected
Diameter Zero error Radius
No. of obs. m.s.r v.r Diameter diameter
(𝑐𝑚) 𝑒 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑎 (𝑐𝑚)
𝐷 (𝑐𝑚) 𝐷 (𝑐𝑚)
1
2
3
4
5

(B) Height of fall of the mass:

ℎ = ……………….. cm. (measured by meter scale).

(C) Data for vs. 𝑚 − 1 graph.

Table-3
No. of 𝑓 = 2ℎ⁄𝑡 1⁄(𝑔 − 𝑓)
𝑚 (g) 𝑡 (s)
obs. (cm/s2) (cm-1s2)
1 750 13.9 1.31463
2 1250 7 5.18367
3 1750 5.2 9.39349
4 2250 4.5 12.54321
5 2750 4 15.875

(D) Determination of 𝐼 from graph.

Table-4
𝑂𝐴 from graph 𝑎 from Table-2 (𝑐𝑚) 𝐼 (g-cm2) 𝐼 (kg-m2)

(E) Determination of 𝐼 theoretically:

Table-5
Supplied values of 𝑎 (𝑐𝑚) 𝐼 𝐼
𝑅 (𝑐𝑚) 𝛿 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑑 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑑 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑟 (𝑐𝑚) 𝑙 (𝑐𝑚) From Table-2 𝑔. 𝑐𝑚 𝑘𝑔. 𝑚

Department of Physics
Kharagpur College
2017-18, SEM-1
Maximum Proportional Error:

We have: 𝑚(𝑔 − 𝑓)𝑎 = +𝑁

[ ( ) ]
Or, 𝐼 =

( )
So, =[ ( ) ]
+ + = ⁄
+ + = + + +

Again, 𝑓 = .

So =2 +

𝜹𝑰 𝒎𝒂𝟐 𝜹𝒂 𝜹𝒉 𝜹𝒕 𝜹𝒂 𝜹𝒉 𝜹𝒕
So, = + +𝟐 + + +𝟐
𝑰 𝑰 𝒂 𝒉 𝒕 𝒂 𝒉 𝒕

𝛿𝑎 =v.c. of slide callipers, 𝛿ℎ = l.c. of meter scale, 𝛿𝑡 = l.c. of stop watch.

An Example
Table-3
No. of 𝑓 = 2ℎ⁄𝑡 1⁄(𝑔 − 𝑓)
𝑚 (g) 𝑡 (s)
obs. (cm/s2) (cm-1s2)
1 750 13.9 1.31463
2 1250 7 5.18367
3 1750 5.2 9.39349
4 2250 4.5 12.54321
5 2750 4 15.875

0.8

0.6
1/f (s /cm)
2

0.4

0.2

OA = 126771
0.0
0
O A 200000 400000 600000
m((g/f)-1) (g)

Department of Physics
Kharagpur College
2017-18, SEM-1
Department of Physics
Kharagpur College
2017-18, SEM-1