The scalar form I (often called simply the 'moment of inertia') allows a succinct analysis of many simple problems in rotational dynamics, such as objects rolling down inclines and the behavior of pulleys.įor instance, while a block of any shape will slide down a friction less decline at the same rate, rolling objects may descend at different rates, depending on their moments of inertia. The moment of inertia has two forms, a scalar form I (used when the axis of rotation is known) and a more general tensor form that does not require knowing the axis of rotation. In this case, disc A has a larger moment of inertia than disc B. Assuming that there is uniform thickness and mass distribution, it requires more effort to accelerate disc A (change its angular velocity) because its mass is distributed further from its axis of rotation: mass that is further out from that axis must, for a given angular velocity, move more quickly than mass closer in. For example, consider two discs (A and B) of the same mass. The moment of inertia of an object about a given axis describes how difficult it is to change its angular motion about that axis. The symbol I and sometimes J are usually used to refer to the moment of inertia. While a simple scalar treatment suffices for many situations, a more advanced tensor treatment allows the analysis of such complicated systems as spinning tops and gyroscope motion. The moment of inertia plays much the same role in rotational dynamics as mass does in basic dynamics, determining the relationship between angular momentum and angular velocity, torque and angular acceleration, and several other quantities. That is, it is the inertia of a rigid rotating body with respect to its rotation. What is Moment of Inertia? Moment of inertia, also called mass moment of inertia or the angular mass, (SI units kg m 2) is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in its rotation rate.

Whole body moment of inertia equation