A potter's wheel (a solid,uniform disk)of mass 7.0 kg and radius 0.65 m spins about its central axis.A 2.1 kg lump of clay is dropped onto the wheel at a distance 0.41 m from the axis.Calculate the rotational inertia of the system. A)1.8 kg ∙ m² B)1.5 kg ∙ m² C)0.40 kg ∙ m² D)2.5 kg ∙ m²

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The rotational inertia of the system is the sum of the rotational inertia of the wheel and the clay. The wheel's inertia is (1/2)MR² = (1/2)(7.0 kg)(0.65 m)² = 1.48 kg∙m². The clay's inertia is mR² = (2.1 kg)(0.41 m)² = 0.353 kg∙m². Total inertia = 1.48 + 0.353 = 1.833 kg∙m², which rounds to 1.8 kg∙m².

A Potter's Wheel (A Solid,uniform Disk)of Mass 7