3301

Physics Rotational Mechanics Level: High School

A solid circular disk has a mass of 1.2 kg and a radius of 0.17 m . Each of three identical thin rods has a mass of 0.16 kg . The rods are attached perpendicularly to the plane of the disk at its outer edge to form a three-legged stool . (see the drawing at “click here”) . Find the moment of inertia of the stool with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the plane of the disk at its center . (Hint: When considering the moment of inertia of each rod , note that all of the mass of each rod is located at the same perpendicular distance from the axis .)