Moment of Inertia | Additional Study Material for Class 11 PDF Download

Moment of Inertia

The inertia of rotational motion is called moment of inertia. It is denoted by L.

Moment of inertia is the property of an object by virtue of which it opposes any change in its state of rotation about an axis.

The moment of inertia of a body about a given axis is equal to the sum of the products of the masses of its constituent particles and the square of their respective distances from the axis of rotation.

Moment of inertia of a body

Its unit is kg.m² and its dimensional formula is [ML²].

The moment of inertia of a body depends upon

• position of the axis of rotation
• orientation of the axis of rotation
• shape and size of the body
• distribution of mass of the body about the axis of rotation.

The physical significance of the moment of inertia is same in rotational motion as the mass in linear motion.

The Radius of Gyration

The root mean square distance of its constituent particles from the axis of rotation is called the radius of gyration of a body.

It is denoted by K.

Radius of gyration

The product of the mass of the body (M) and square of its radius gyration (K) gives the same moment of inertia of the body about rotational axis.

Therefore, moment of inertia I = MK² ⇒ K = √1/M

Parallel Axes Theorem

The moment of inertia of any object about any arbitrary axes is equal to the sum of moment of inertia about a parallel axis passing through the centre of mass and the product of mass of the body and the square of the perpendicular distance between
the two axes.

Mathematically I = I_CM + Mr²

where I is the moment of inertia about the arbitrary axis, I_cM is moment of inertia about the parallel axis through the centre of mass, M is the total mass of the object and r is the perpendicular distance between the axis.

Perpendicular Axes Theorem

The moment of inertia of any two dimensional body about an axis perpendicular to its plane (I_z) is equal to the sum of moments of inertia of the body about two mutually perpendicular axes lying in its own plane and intersecting
each other at a point, where the perpendicular axis passes through it.

Mathematically I_z = I_x + I_y

where I_x and I_y are the moments of inertia of plane lamina about perpendicular axes X and Y respectively which lie in the plane lamina an intersect each other.

Theorem of parallel axes is applicable for any type of rigid body whether it is a two dimensional or three dimensional, while the theorem of perpendicular is applicable for laminar type or two I dimensional bodies only.

Moment of Inertia of Homogeneous Rigid Bodies

For a Thin Circular Ring

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment ot inertia
(a)	About an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to Its plane
(b)	About a tangent perpendicular to its plane
(c)	About a tangent in the plane of ring
(d)	About a diameter

For a Circular Disc

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
(a)	About an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to its plane
(b)	About a tangent perpendicular to its plane
(c)	About a tangent in its plane
(d)	About a diameter

For a Thin Rod

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
(a)	About an axis passing through its centre and perpendicular to its length
(b)	About an axis passing through its one end and perpendicular to its length

For a Solid Cylinder

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
(a)	About its geometrical
(b)	About an axis passing through its outer face along its length
(c)	About an axis passing through its center and perpendicular to its length
(d)	About an axis passing through its diameter of circular surface

For a Rectangular Plate

Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
About an axis passing through its centre and peroendicular to its plane

For a Thin Spherical Shell

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
(a)	About its any diameter
(b)	About its any tangent

For a Solid Sphere

S. No.	Axis of Rotation	Moment of Inertia
(a)	About its any diameter
(b)	About its any tangent