- #1
Wimpalot
- 35
- 1
Homework Statement
I have a rotating platform that spins as a mass attached to a wheel rotates the larger platform. The mass accelerates to the ground which spins the platform essentially. I am trying to calculate the moment of inertia of another mass which will be attached to the rotating platform. To do this I have a formula which I calculated:
I = (r^2 * m * (g - a))/a
Where I is the moment of inertia. r is the radius at which the string acts on the smaller "gear" wheel. m is the mass of the hanging object, g is the acceleration due to gravity and a is the actual acceleration of the object.
I have two questions:
1) Is this formula correct?
2) I need to linearise the equation so that I can perform linear regression by collecting data on the acceleration of the mass as it falls. How can I do this? All my attempts at making it linear have failed. I am allowed to use the approximation that I/mr^2 is much greater than 1 but I do not have to, it is optional
Homework Equations
I used:
α=a/r
τ=Iα=rT
F = ma
Fg - T = ma
where T is the tension in the string and Fg is the force on the mass due to gravity
To get:
I = (r2 * m * (g - a))/a
The Attempt at a Solution
The closest I can get is basically this:
I = (r2*m*g)/a - r2*m
But that is a hyperbola and I do not know how I can linearly regress using that