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Ch 09: Rotation of Rigid Bodies
Chapter 9, Problem 9

If we multiply all the design dimensions of an object by a scaling factor f, its volume and mass will be multiplied by f^3. (a) By what factor will its moment of inertia be multiplied?

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Identify the relationship between the moment of inertia (I) and the mass (m) and the radius (r) of the object. The moment of inertia is generally given by I = k * m * r^2, where k is a constant that depends on the shape of the object.
Recognize that when the dimensions of the object are scaled by a factor of f, the radius (or any linear dimension) of the object will also be scaled by f. Therefore, the new radius r' will be f * r.
Understand that the mass of the object will be scaled by the factor f^3, as given in the problem statement. Thus, the new mass m' will be f^3 * m.
Substitute the scaled values into the moment of inertia formula to find the new moment of inertia I'. Replace m with m' and r with r', resulting in I' = k * (f^3 * m) * (f * r)^2.
Simplify the expression for I' to find the scaling factor for the moment of inertia. This results in I' = k * f^3 * m * f^2 * r^2 = f^5 * I. Therefore, the moment of inertia is multiplied by the factor f^5.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Scaling Factor

A scaling factor is a numerical value used to increase or decrease the size of an object in a proportional manner. When all dimensions of an object are multiplied by a scaling factor 'f', the object's linear dimensions change, which affects its volume and mass. This concept is crucial for understanding how physical properties of an object change with size.
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Moment of Inertia

The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to rotational motion about an axis. It depends on the mass distribution relative to that axis; the further the mass is from the axis, the greater the moment of inertia. When scaling an object, the moment of inertia changes based on the square of the scaling factor, reflecting how mass distribution is affected by size.
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Volume and Mass Relationship

The volume of an object is the amount of space it occupies, while mass is the quantity of matter within it. When an object's dimensions are scaled by a factor 'f', its volume increases by f^3, and its mass increases proportionally, assuming uniform density. This relationship is fundamental in physics, as it connects geometric scaling to physical properties like mass and inertia.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
A wheel of diameter 40.0 cm starts from rest and rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 3.00 rad/s^2. Compute the radial acceleration of a point on the rim for the instant the wheel completes its second revolution from the relationship (b) a_rad = v^2/r
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Textbook Question
A wheel of diameter 40.0 cm starts from rest and rotates with a constant angular acceleration of 3.00 rad/s^2. Compute the radial acceleration of a point on the rim for the instant the wheel completes its second revolution from the relationship (a) a_rad = ω^2r and (b) a_rad = v^2/r
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Textbook Question
A wheel is rotating about an axis that is in the z-direction. The angular velocity ω_z is -6.00 rad/s at t = 0, increases linearly with time, and is +4.00 rad/s at t = 7.00 s. We have taken counterclockwise rotation to be positive. (b) During what time interval is the speed of the wheel increasing? Decreasing?
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Textbook Question

A bicycle wheel has an initial angular velocity of 1.50 rad/s. (a) If its angular acceleration is constant and equal to 0.200 rad/s^2, what is its angular velocity at t = 2.50 s? (b) Through what angle has the wheel turned between t = 0 and t = 2.50 s?

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Textbook Question
A 2.80-kg grinding wheel is in the form of a solid cylinder of radius 0.100 m. (a) What constant torque will bring it from rest to an angular speed of 1200 rev/min in 2.5 s?
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