CE Board Exam Randomizer

⬅ Back to Integral Calculus Topics

Moments of Inertia

Area and mass moments of inertia, polar moment, parallel-axis theorems, and radius of gyration.

Area Moments of Inertia (Second Moments of Area)

$$I_x=\int y^2\,dA$$
$$I_y=\int x^2\,dA$$
$$I_{xy}=\int xy\,dA$$

Polar Moment of Inertia

$$J_O=\int r^2\,dA$$
$$J_O=I_x+I_y$$

Parallel-Axis Theorem (Area)

$$I_x=I_{\bar{x}}+A d^2$$
$$I_y=I_{\bar{y}}+A d^2$$

Parallel-Axis Theorem (Polar)

$$J_O=J_C+A d^2$$

Radius of Gyration

$$k_x=\sqrt{\frac{I_x}{A}}$$
$$k_y=\sqrt{\frac{I_y}{A}}$$
$$k_O=\sqrt{\frac{J_O}{A}}$$

Mass Moment of Inertia

$$I=\int r^2\,dm$$
$$I_x=\int (y^2+z^2)\,dm$$
$$I_y=\int (x^2+z^2)\,dm$$
$$I_z=\int (x^2+y^2)\,dm$$

Parallel-Axis Theorem (Mass)

$$I_O=I_C+M d^2$$

Centroid of a Parabolic Region

Find the centroid of the region in the first quadrant bounded by $y=9-x^2$, the $x$-axis, and the $y$-axis.

The area is

$$A=\int_0^3(9-x^2)\,dx=18.$$

For the $x$-coordinate:

$$\bar{x}=\frac{1}{18}\int_0^3x(9-x^2)\,dx=\frac{1}{18}\left[\frac{9x^2}{2}-\frac{x^4}{4}\right]_0^3=\frac{9}{8}$$

For the $y$-coordinate:

$$\bar{y}=\frac{1}{18}\cdot\frac{1}{2}\int_0^3(9-x^2)^2\,dx=\frac{18}{5}$$

$$\boxed{\left(\frac{9}{8},\frac{18}{5}\right)}$$

Moment of Inertia About the y-Axis for a Parabola

Find $I_y$ of the region bounded by $x^2=8y$, $y=2$, and $x=0$.

At $y=2$, $x=4$. Use vertical strips from $x=0$ to $x=4$. The strip height is $2-\frac{x^2}{8}$.

$$I_y=\int_0^4x^2\left(2-\frac{x^2}{8}\right)dx$$

$$=\left[\frac{2x^3}{3}-\frac{x^5}{40}\right]_0^4=\boxed{17.07}$$

Moment of Inertia About the x-Axis for a Sideways Parabola

Find $I_x$ of the first-quadrant region bounded by $y^2=4x$, $y=2$, and the $y$-axis.

Use horizontal strips. Since $x=\frac{y^2}{4}$, the strip length is $\frac{y^2}{4}$.

$$I_x=\int_0^2y^2\left(\frac{y^2}{4}\right)dy=\frac{1}{4}\int_0^2y^4\,dy$$

$$I_x=\frac{1}{4}\left[\frac{y^5}{5}\right]_0^2=\boxed{1.6}$$

Radius of Gyration From Area Moment

For the same region bounded by $y^2=4x$, $y=2$, and the $y$-axis, find the radius of gyration about the $x$-axis.

The area is

$$A=\int_0^2\frac{y^2}{4}\,dy=\frac{2}{3}.$$

From the previous result, $I_x=1.6$.

$$k_x=\sqrt{\frac{I_x}{A}}=\sqrt{\frac{1.6}{2/3}}=\boxed{1.55}$$

Scroll to zoom