Question

Two wheels, each with the same radius R and the same total mass M, are rotating about their fixed axles. Wheel A is a hoop with all the mass very near the rim. Wheel B is a disk with the mass spread out uniformly. Which has the larger moment of inertia?

Answer 1

Answer:

Wheel A

Explanation:

Moment of inertia is the tendency of a body to resist angular acceleration.

The moment of inertia of a body having its mass concentrated away from the axis of rotation will have a higher value.

For a ring, we have the moment of inertia as:

$I=m.r^2$

where:

m = mass of the ring

r = radius of the ring

Moment of inertia for a disc:

$I=\frac{1}{2} m.r^2$