4/8/2016

Moment of Inertia

Moment of Inertia
Moment of Inertia (Mass Moment of Inertia) depends on the
mass of the object, its shape and its relative point of rotation Radius of Gyration
Sponsored Links
Moment of Inertia (Mass Moment of Inertia) - I - is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in
the rotation direction. Moment of Inertia has the same relationship to angular acceleration as mass
has to linear acceleration.
Moment of Inertia of a body depends on the distribution of mass in the body with respect to the axis
of rotation
For a point mass the Moment of Inertia is the mass times the square of perpendicular distance to the
rotation reference axis and can be expressed as
I = m r2

(1)where

I = moment of inertia (kg m2, slug ft2)

m = mass (kg, slugs)
r = distance between axis and rotation mass (m, ft)

Example - Moment of Inertia of a Single Mass

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html

1/5

4/8/2016

Moment of Inertia

The Moment of Inertia with respect of rotation around the z-axis of a single mass of 1 kg distributed as
a thin ring as indicated in the figure above, can be calculated as
Iz = (1 kg) ((1000 mm)(0.001 m/mm))2

= 1 kg m2

Moment of Inertia - Distributed Masses

Point mass is the basis for all other moments of inertia since any object can be "built up" from a
collection of point masses.
I = i mi ri 2 = m1 r12 + m2 r22 + ..... + mnrn2

(2)

For rigid bodies with continuous distribution of adjacent particles the formula is better expressed as
an integral
I = r2 dm

(2b)where dm = mass of an infinitesimally small part of the body

Convert between Units for the Moment of Inertia

Multiply with
to
from
kg m2

g cm2

lbm ft2

2
7
1
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html

lbm in2

slug ft2
3

slug in2
-1

2/5

4/8/2016

Moment of Inertia

kg m2

1 107

2.37 101

3.42 103

7.38 10-1

1.06 102

g cm2

1 10-7

2.37 10-6

3.42 10-4

7.38 10-8

1.06 105

lbm ft2

4.21 10-2

4.21 105

1.44 102

3.11 10-2

4.48

lbm in2

2.93 10-4

2.93 103

6.94 10-3

2.16 10-4

3.11 10-2

slug ft2

1.36

1.36 107

3.22 101

4.63 103

1.44 102

slug in2

9.42 10-3

9.42 104

2.23 10-1

3.22 101

6.94 10-3

Moment of Inertia - General Formula

A generic expression of the inertia equation is
I = k m r2

(2c)where

k = inertial constant - depending on the shape of the body

Radius of Gyration
The Radius of Gyration is the distance from the rotation axis where a concentrated point mass equals
the Moment of Inertia of the actual body. The Radius of Gyration for a body can be expressed as
rg = (I / m)1/2 (2d)where rg = Radius of Gyration (m, ft)I = Moment of inertia for the body (kg m2, slug
ft2)
m = mass of the body (kg, slugs)

Some Typical Bodies and their Moments of Inertia

Cylinder
Thin-walled hollow cylinder

Moments of Inertia for a thin-walled hollow cylinder is comparable with the point mass (1) and can be
expressed as:
I = m r2

(3a)wherem = mass of the hollow (kg, slugs)r = distance between axis and the thin

walled hollow (m, ft)ro = distance between axis and outside hollow (m, ft)
Hollow cylinder

I = 1/2 m ( ri 2 + ro2)

(3b)wherem = mass of hollow (kg, slugs)ri = distance between axis and

inside hollow (m, ft)ro = distance between axis and outside hollow (m, ft)
Solid cylinder

I = 1/2 m r2 (3c)wherem = mass of cylinder (kg, slugs)r = distance between axis and outside
cylinder (m, ft)
Circular Disk
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html

3/5

4/8/2016

Moment of Inertia

I = 1/2 m r2 (3d)wherem = mass of disk (kg, slugs)r = distance between axis and outside disk (m, ft)
Sphere
Thin-walled hollow sphere

I = 2/3 m r2

(4a)wherem = mass of sphere hollow (kg, slugs)r = distance between axis and

hollow (m, ft)

Solid sphere

I = 2/5 m r2

(4b)wherem = mass of sphere (kg, slugs)r = radius in sphere (m, ft)

Rectangular Plane
Moments of Inertia for a rectangular plane with axis through center can be expressed as
I = 1/12 m (a2 + b2)

(5)where a, b = short and long sides

Moments of Inertia for a rectangular plane with axis along edge can be expressed as
I = 1/3 m a2

(5b)

Slender Rod
Moments of Inertia for a slender rod with axis through center can be expressed as
I = 1/12 m L2

(6)where L = length of rod

Moments of Inertia for a slender rod with axis through end can be expressed as
I = 1/3 m L2

(6b)

Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links

Related Topics
Basics - Basic Information as SI-system, Unit converters, Physical constants
Dynamics - Dynamics Motion - velocity and acceleration
Mechanics - Kinematics, forces, vectors, motion, momentum, energy and the dynamics of objects
Statics - Loads - force and torque

Related Documents
Equilibrium - Static equilibrium is achieved when both resultant force and resultant moment
equals to zero
Torque - Work done and Power transmitted - The work done and power transmitted by a
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html

4/5

4/8/2016

Moment of Inertia

constant torque
Flywheel Kinetic Energy - Flywheel kinetic energy and moment of inertia
Timber - Section Sizes - Basic size, area, moments of inertia and section modulus for timber metric units
Mass and Weight - Mass and Weight - the difference

Tag Search
en: moment inertia torque radius gyration axis
es: momento de inercia eje Gyration radio torque
de: Moment Trgheitsmoment Radius Kreiselachse

Search the Engineering ToolBox

- "Search is the most efficient way to navigate the Engineering ToolBox!"

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D

modeling!

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and
more - to your SketchUp model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension/Plugin - enabled
for use with the amazing, fun and free SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro . Add the Engineering
ToolBox extension to your SketchUp from the Sketchup Extension Warehouse!

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/moment-inertia-torque-d_913.html

5/5