Lab 127: Torque, Rotational Inertia and Rotational Kinetic Energy

1. OBJECTIVES
(1)To understand how torque, the measure of force that causes the object to rotate, works in a rotational
and linear force system.
(2)To understand moment of inertia with its respect to axis of rotation and its relationship with torque.
(3)To find the energy loss from the rotational kinetic energy.
2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
1. τ=Fr, the tendency of a force to rotate an object, τ, is the product the force applied and distance
perpendicular to the direction of force from its pivot point.
2. ∑τ=Iα, the object rotates if there is external net torque acting on it. I, I=∑mr 2, or rotational inertia,
is the measure of rigid body’s resistance to rotate, α, is the angular acceleration.
1 2
3. K= 2 I ω , kinetic energy of rotation motion. notice, if we rewrite I as mr2, and ω as (v/r), we

1 2
are to end up with m v , which is the kinetic energy of object in linear motion.
2
m ( g−αr )
4. I= r , we derive this equation using 3 separate equations from the system in this
α

experiment. This establishes the relationship between linear and angular motion and allows us to
calculate moment of inertia, which we would be finding in this experiment.1
3. PROCEDURE
a. To verify the relation ∑τ=Iα, first set up all the equipment required including software and
connecting AC adapter power cord
b. Measure the mass of rotating disk and attach the cord to the small upper disk on top of the big
disk.
c. Record the data using computer software when hanging mass is released from cord from the
rotating disk
d. On plotted graph, determine α, angular acceleration, slope the angular velocity. Using α and I and
calculate torque
e. In part II, an aluminum disk and two masses on a thin rod are used. From the data collected in the
computer program, we compare our experimental inertial with theoretical inertial
f. In part III, a ruler is implemented to measure different positions of hanging mass while it is
released from certain height.
4. RESULTS
4.1 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

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 Part I.
Mhnaging= 0.025kg, Mbig disk= 0.4712kg
Rrotating wheel =0.015m, Rbig disk= 0.062m
α= 3.09 rad/s2
Part II.
α = 0.694rad/s2
Mrod=0.65kg
Rrod=0.057m
Part III
ω= 14.77rad/s
Position ①=11.3cm ②=19.4cm ③=26cm ④=31cm,
4.2 CALCULATION
Part I
9.8−3.09 ( 0.015 ) 0.015
m ( g−αr ) ¿
I= r , 0.025 ¿ =0.0108
α
I =¿

1
I = mr 2 , I =1/2(0.4712)( 0.062)2=0.0095
2

Part II
9.8−0.694 ( 0.015 ) 0.015
m ( g−αr ) ¿
I= r , 0.025 ¿
α
I =¿

1
I = mr 2−2m r 2 , I =0.5 ( 0.4712 )( 0.062 )2 −2(0.65)(0.057)2=0.0051
2

Part III
Potential Energy lost= (1-2), hdiff=0.081m, mgh=(0.025)(9.8)(0.081)=0.019845
Potential Energy lost= (3-4), hdiff=0.05m, mgh=(0.025)(9.8)(0.05)=0.01225
1 1 1 1
Kinetic Energy gained= I ω 2+ m(ωr)2= ( 0.0095 )( 14.77 )2 + ( 0.025 ) ( 14.77∗0.015 )2=1.04
2 2 2 2

4.3 ERROR ANALYSIS

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 Disk I 0.0108 0.0095 0.0013 13%
Disk+Rod I 0.0053 0.0051 0.0002 3.9%

5. DISCUSSION
In study of torque, rotational inertia and rotational kinetic energy, we are to find the relationship between
rotational motion and linear motion. In first part of experiment, in the pulley system, by using the
relationship between linear and angular acceleration, a=rα, and from we know about torque, τ=Fr, and
∑τ=Iα, we can derive an equation allowing us to calculate the moment of inertia of a particular rotating
object. We can then use this moment of inertia, in this case of a disk, to compare with the theoretical
moment of inertia, which is 1/2mr2. In second part of experiment, we are to further investigate rotational
inertias on objects of different shapes. A rod is placed on the disk and following the same procedure, we
can calculate rod’s moment of inertia using experimental data or theoretical formula. In the last part of
experiment, we are to find the potential energy loss as the hanging mass is released from rotational disk,
from difference between potential energy, we can determine the energy loss due to rotational motion and
possible work done by friction. There are minor errors produced in this experiment as to difference
between experimental and theoretical rotational inertia.
6. CONCLUSIONS
In this experiment, concept of torque is introduced; from Newton’s second law, a force that is applied an
object gives acceleration for the object to move in translation; in rotational motion, however, an object is
set to be in rotation other than translation due to the pivot point; this is known as the torque, also a
measure of force but in rotational motion. A torque produces angular velocity and change in angular
velocity results in angular acceleration. Rotational Inertia, similar to mass in Newton’s second law, is the
resistance for an object to rotate, and it varies with different objects of different axis of rotation and mass
distribution. We have verify moment of inertias on different objects. We can verify their formulas for
rotational inertias of these objects from experimental data. Lastly, similar to translational kinetic energy,
the rotational kinetic energy can very well be calculated from relationship between translational velocity
and angular velocity, which is v=rω.

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