Question

1. Assuming that the acceleration of the driving mass was constant, calculate the speed and the translational kinetic energy of the driving mass just as it strikes the ground. Use the average of the three measured times.

2. Using conservation of energy, calculate the rotational kinetic energy of the system just as the driving mass strikes the ground.

3. Calculate the angular velocity of the system just as the driving mass strikes the ground.

4. Using the rotational kinetic energy and the angular velocity of the system, calculate the experimental moment of inertia.

5. Calculate the theoretical moment of inertia of the horizontal disk. Find the percent difference between the experimental and theoretical moment of inertia.

6. By subtracting your experimental results for the horizontal disk and the disk and ring together, find the experimental moment of inertia of the ring alone. Calculate the theoretical moment of inertia of the ring. Find the percent difference between the experimental and theoretical moment of inertia.

7. Calculate the theoretical moment of inertia of the vertical disk. Find the percent difference between the experimental and theoretical moment of inertia.

8. The metal axle on which the disk was mounted is made of aluminum (ρ = 2.70 g/cm3 ) and is approximately 18.2 cm long and 1.2 cm in diameter. Estimate the moment of inertia of the axle. What percent of the total moment of inertia of the system consisting of the axle and the horizontal disk is this? Does ignoring the axle significantly affect the results of the calculated moments of inertia?

9. Explain why, even if the moment of inertia of the metal axle were very large, it would have no effect on your calculation of the experimental value of the moment of inertia of the ring.

I am having trouble finding the correct formulas to use.

Answer 1