AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL

UNIVERSITY-BANGLADESH
408/1, Kuratoli, Khilkhet, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh

Assignment Title: To determine the moment of inertia of a flywheel about its axis of rotation.

Assignment No: 04 Date of Submission:19/10/2023

Course Title: Physics lab -1
Course Code: Section:C-11
Semester: FALL 23-24 Course Teacher: TUSAR SAHA

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Group Name/No.: 05

No Name ID Program Signature

1 MD. ASHIKUJJMAN SARKER 23-55802-3 EEE
2 REDAY ISLAM 23-55797-3 EEE
3 Mohammad Sami 23-55801-3 EEE
4 Akib Rahman 23-55800-3 EEE
5 Foyeb Ibnay Kazi, Nafeu 23-55812-3 EEE

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Experiment No. 4:
To determine the moment of inertia of a flywheel about its axis of rotation.

4.1 Theory :
Moment of inertia is the name given to rotational inertia, the rotational analog of mass for
linear motion. The moment of inertia for an object must be specified with respect to a chosen
axis of rotation.
The flywheel consists of a heavy circular disc/massive wheel fitted with a strong axle projecting
on either side. There is a small peg on the axle. One end of a cord is loosely looped around the
peg and its other end carries the weight-hanger as the fig. 1.1 shows.

Figure 4.1: Setup for the experiment with flywheel.

Let M be the mass of the weight hanger and hanging rings (weight assembly). When the mass M
descends through a height h, the loss in potential energy is

Ploss =Mgh
Where g is the acceleration due to gravity in the lab.
The resulting gain of kinetic energy in the rotating flywheel assembly (flywheel and axle) and
the descending weight assembly are
1
Kflywheel = 2 2 (1)
1
and Kweight = 2 Mv2 (2)
where I, ω and v are the moment of inertia of the flywheel, angular velocity and velocity at the
instant the weight assembly touches the ground respectively.
If Wf is the work done to overcome the frictional torque in rotating the flywheel assembly for
one completely rotation, then for n number of rotation the total work done against friction is

Wfriction = nWf (3)

Now applying the law of conservation of energy we get

Ploss =Kflywheel + Kweight + Wfriction

On substituting the values from Eq. (1) – (3), we get
1 1
Mgh = 2 2 + 2 Mv2 + nWf
The kinetic energy of the flywheel assembly is expended in rotating N times against the same
frictional torque. Therefore
1 1
NWf = 2 2 => Wf = 2 N 
2

If r is the radius of the axle, then velocity v of the weight assembly is related to r by the
equation 𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟. Substituting the values of v and Wf we get
1 1 1
Mgh = 2 2 + 2 M2r2 + 2 N 
2

Now solving the above equation for I

NM 2 gh 2
= N +n ( ❑
2
−r )

Since we are assuming that the torsional friction Wf is constant over time, the angular velocity is
simply twice the average angular velocity, i.e.,
4N
 =2average = t
where t is the duration of time for N rotation.

4.2 Equipment:
Fly wheel, weight hanger, slotted weights, stop watch and metre scale.

4.3 Procedure:
• Adjust the length of the cord carefully, so that when the weight-hanger just touches the ground,
the loop slips off the peg.
• Place a suitable weight in the weight hanger.
• Make a chalk mark on the rim so that it is against the pointer when the weight hanger just touches
the ground. Loop the other end of the cord loosely around the peg keeping the weight hanger just
touching the ground.
• Give the flywheel a suitable number (n) of rotation so that the cord is wound round the axle
without overlapping.
• Measure the height (h) of the weight hanger from the ground.
• Release the flywheel. Observe that the weight hanger descends and the flywheel rotates smoothly.
The cord slips off from the peg when the weight hanger just touches the ground. By this time the
flywheel would have made n rotations.
• Star the stop watch just when the weight hanger touches the ground. The time taken by the
flywheel to come to a stop is determined as t seconds. Count the number of rotations (N) made by
the flywheel during this interval.
• Repeat the experiment by changing the value of M and n.
• Measure the radius of the axel with a Vernier calipers.
• From these values calculate the moment of inertia of the given flywheel using the equation that is
given in the theory.

4.4 Experiment Data:

Table 4.1: Readings for n, N and t for different M and h

Obs. Mass Height above No of revolutions Time for N

No. Suspended the ground rotations
M h n N t
(kg) (m) (s)
1 1.5 0.55 7 22 14.85

2 2 0.55 7 25 15.45

3 2.5 0.55 7 31 16.11

Table 4.2: Reading for the radius of axel of the flywheel.

Obs. Mean Mean

No. M.S.R. V.S.D. V.S.R Diameter Diameter Radius
x a y = a.c d = x+y d r
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1 2.3 8 0.4 2.7
2.573 1.2865
2 2.3 2 0.1 2.4
3 2.32 6 0.3 2.62

Mean Radius of the Axel, r =0.0128m.

4.5 Calculations:
A. For Mass M = 1.5 kg
Height, h = 0.55 m
Radius of the Axel, r = 0.0128 m
No. of rotations, n = 7 and N = 22
4N
Angular velocity, = t = 18.616
NM 2 gh 2
Moment of Inertia, 1 = N +n ( ❑
2
−r )

=0.03521

B. For Mass M = 2 kg
Height, h = 0.55 m
Radius of the Axel, r = = 0.0128 m
No. of rotations, n = 7 and N = 25
4N
Angular velocity, = t = 20.33
NM 2 gh 2
Moment of Inertia, 2 = N +n ( ❑
2
−r )

=0.0404

C. For Mass M = 2.5 kg

Height, h =0.55 m
Radius of the Axel, r == 0.0128 m
No. of rotations, n = 7 and N = 31
4N
Angular velocity, = t = 24.18
NM 2 gh 2
Moment of Inertia, 3 = N +n ( ❑
2
−r )

=0.0372
4.6 Result:
No. of Obs. Moment of Inertia Mean Moment of Inertia
of the given flywheel of the flywheel
(kg.m2) (kg.m2)

1 0.03521

2 0.0404 0.0376

3 0.0372

4.7 Discussions:
1. Length of the string should be so adjusted that the rotations at the moment the cord goes off
the beg
2. Care should be taken to begin counting time and rotations at the moment the cord goes
down off the pig.
3. A good number of rotations should be maden by the wheel before stopping.
4. The diameter of the cord should be negligible as compared to the diameter of the axis.
5. The positions of the bottom of the weight should be mark on the stand or walk in two cases.

4.8 Resources:
 Fundamental of Physics (10th Edition):Rotational motion (chapter 10, page 257-272),
Moment of Inertia (chapter 10, page 273-274).
 Video Links:
 Moment of Inertia: 1.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytevg8DWL8A
2.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrGhUTeIlWs
 Applications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMazLuxpzxE