Triangle's Moment of Inertia (about its center of mass)

Purpose

In this lab, we were looking to find the moment of inertia of a triangle about its center of mass

Procedure + Lab Equipment

What we used:

• rotating apparatus
• disks
• hanging mass
• torque pulley
• hanging mass
• triangle
• holder for triangle
• caliper to measure

 What we did:

1. we took measurements of the triangle
2. we set the rotating apparatus with a hanging mass took angular acceleration of the rotating apparatus without the triangle, with the triangle on its base, and on its height
3. we calculated the moment of inertia by experiment using angular acceleration and by calculations using calculus

 

This is the setup for the disks and holder only

This is the setup for when the triangle is on its base

This is the setup for when the triangle is on its height

Data

This is the angular acceleration for the disks with the holder

Data Analysis + Calculations

Calculations for the moment of inertia of a triangle about its center when its on its base

 

Calculations for the moment of inertia of a triangle about its center when its on its height