AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY–BANGLADESH (AIUB)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PHYSICS LAB 1
Spring 2022-2023
Section: B12, Group: 2

LAB REPORT ON
To determine the moment of inertia of a flywheel about its axis of rotation.

Supervised By
DR. MAHJABIN TASKIN

Submitted By
Name ID Contribution
1. ADNAN SAMI ANIK 23-50641-1 Apparatus, Procedure
2. GAZI MUSHFIQ 23-50642-1 Experimental Data, Analysis and
MUHTASIM Calculation
3. ERFANUL HAQUE JOY 23-50645-1 Theory
4. HABIBUR RAHAMAN 23-50644-1 Result
SYIMON
5. SWAPNIL PAUL 23-50646-1 Discussion, References

Date of Submission: February 27, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS Page
no.
I. Title Page 1

II. Table of Content 2

1. Theory 3

2. Apparatus 5

3. Procedure 5

4. Experimental Data 6

5. Calculation 7

6. Result 8

7. Discussion 9

8. References 9

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 2 of 9

 1. Theory
The mass moment of inertia is an important concept in rotational motion. Rotational inertia is
one indicator of the ability of a rotating body to store kinetic energy. Rotational inertia is one
indicator of the ability of a rotating body to store kinetic energy. It is also an indicator of the
amount of torque that will be needed to rotational accelerate the body. Just as mass is a
measure of the resistance of linear acceleration, the moment of inertia is a measure of
resistance to angular acceleration.
Flywheel is a solid disc of significant size and weight mounted on the shaft of machines such
as steam engines, diesel engines, turbines etc. Its function is to minimize the speed
fluctuations that take place when the load on such machines suddenly decreases or increases.
The flywheel acquires excess kinetic energy from the machines when the load on the machine
is less or it is running idle and supplies the stored energy to the machine when it is subjected
to larger loads. The capacity of storing kinetic energy depends on the rotational inertia of the
flywheel. This rotational inertia is known as the moment of inertia of a rotating object namely
wheels. The rotational kinetic energy can be defined by the equation.
1
Kf= 2
Iω2......(1)
1
K=2 Mv² ........(2)

Where, I is the moment of inertia of the body about the axis of rotation.

Figure 4.1: Setup for the experiment with flywheel.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 3 of 9

 In this experiment, the flywheel rotates freely about a horizontal axis. The radius of the axle
of the flywheel can be measured with a caliper. As m falls, its gravitational potential energy
is transferred into translational kinetic energy of m, rotational kinetic energy of the flywheel
and work done by friction. As the flywheel completes N further turns, its original rotational
kinetic energy is transferred into friction loss. Assume the flywheel decelerates uniformly.
Thus, the moment of inertia of the flywheel can be determined.

The working formula are,

1 1
Mgh = 2
Iω2 + 2
Mv 2 + nWf
1 1 1 n
⇒ Mgh = 2
Iω2 + 2
Mω2 r 2 + 2 N
Iω2
NM 2gh
⇒I= ( −
N+n ω2
r2)
4πN
∴ ωa =
t

Where,
M = Mass
R = Radius
I = moment of inertia
ω = Maximum angular velocity
n = number of the rope rotation
N = Number of revolution
ωa = Average angular velocity
t = duration of time for N rotation

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 4 of 9

 2. Apparatus
1. Fly wheel
2. Weight hanger
3. Slotted weights
4. Stopwatch
5. Meter scale

3. Procedure
1. We adjusted the length of the cord carefully and when the weight-hanger just touched the
ground, the loop slipped off the peg.
2. We placed a suitable weight on the weight hanger.
3. We made a chalk mark on the rim so that it was against the pointer when the weight
hanger just touched the ground. The other end of the cord was looped loosely around the
peg, keeping the weight hanger just touching the ground.
4. We gave the flywheel a suitable number (n) of rotations so that the cord was wound
around the axle without overlapping.
5. We measured the height of the weight hanger from the ground.
6. We released the flywheel and observed that the weight hanger descended and the
flywheel rotated smoothly. The cord slipped from the peg when the weight hanger
touched the ground. By this time, the flywheel had made n number of rotations.
7. We started the stopwatch just when the weight hanger touched the ground. The time
taken by the flywheel to come to a stop was determined as t seconds. We counted the
number of rotations (N).
8. We repeated the experiment by changing the value of M and n.
9. We measured the radius of the axle with a Vernier caliper.
10. From these values we calculated the moment of inertia of the given flywheel by using the
equation that was given in the theory.

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 5 of 9

 4. Experimental Data

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

Obs. Mass Height above No of revolutions Times for N
No. Suspended the ground n N relations
M H T
(kg) (m) (s)

1 1 71.5 9 15 9.22

2 1.5 61 8 22 10.9

3 2 53 7 27 12.10

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

Obs. M.S.R. V.S.D. V.S.R. Diameter Mean Mean

Diameter Radius
No. X a y = a.c d = x+y
d r
(cm) (cm) (cm)
(cm) (cm)

1 23 2 0.1 23.1 23.1 cm 0.1155 m

2 23 2 0.1 23.1 = 0.231 m

Mean Radius of the Axel, r = 0.1155 m

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 6 of 9

 5. Calculation
A. For Mass M = 1 kg:

Height, h = 71.5 m

Radius pf the Axel, r = 0.1155 m

No. of the rotations, n = 9

And N = 15

Time, t = 9.22 sec

4πN 4×3.1416×15
Angular velocity, ω = t
= 9.22 s
= 20.44 rad s−1

NM 2gh 15×1 2×9.8×71.5

Moment of Inertia, I1 = N+n
( ω2 − r 2 ) = 15+9 { (20.44)2
− −(0.1155)2}

15
= (24 × 3.3409) kg m2 = 2.088 kg m2

B. For Mass M = 1.5 kg:

Height, h = 61 m

Radius pf the Axel, r = 0.1155 m

No. of the rotations, n = 8

And N = 22

Time, t = 10.9 sec

4πN 4×3.1416×22
Angular velocity, ω = t
= 10.9 s
= 25.36 rad s−1

NM 2gh 22.15 2×9.8×61

Moment of Inertia, I2 = (
N+n ω2
− r 2 ) = 22+8 {(25.363)2 − (0.1155)2 }

= (11 × 1.845) kg m2 = 2.0295 kg m2

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 7 of 9

 C. For Mass M = 2 kg:

Height, h = 53 m

Radius pf the Axel, r = 0.1155 m

No. of the rotations, n = 7

And N = 27

Time, t = 12.10 sec

4πN 4×3.1416×27
Angular velocity, ω = t
= 12.10 s
= 28.041 rad s−1

NM 2gh 27×2 2×9.8×53

Moment of Inertia, I3 = (
N+n ω2
− r 2 ) = 27+7 {(28.041)2 − (0.1155)2 }

54 1038.8
= 34 {(28.041)2 − (0.1155)2 } = 2.077 kg m2

6. Result
No. of Moment of Inertia Mean Moment of Inertia
Obs. Of the given flywheel Of the flywheel
(kg. m2 ) (kg. m2 )

1 2.088 kg m2
2 2.0295 kg m2 2.0648 kg m2
3 2.077 kg m2

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 8 of 9

 7. Discussion
1. At first the length of the string should be optimally adjusted so that when the moment of
the rotations the cord goes off the beg.
2. After that we should be highly cautious for counting times and rotations at the moment
when the cord goes downfall.
3. The wheel should make a good number of rotations (like 100) before stopping. If not,
then we have to eliminate friction by oiling the axile.
4. By comparing with the diameter of the axis the diameter of the cord should be negligible.
5. The bottom of the weight positions should be symbolized on the stand or
wall in two cases.

8. References
1. (Fundamentals of Physics (10th Edition): Rotational motion (Chapter 10, page 257-272),
Moment of Inertia (Chapter 10, page 273-274).
2. https://youtu.be/9MBE5t1Sv_w
3. https://youtu.be/5HzzGWAXU88
4. https://youtu.be/n4Vw8H5T2CI

Lab Report Department of Physics Page 9 of 9