1 Physics -- Rotational Dynamics

To maximize the moment of Inertia of a flywheel while minimizing its weight, what shape and distribution of mass should it have? Explain.

To maximize the moment of Inertia of a flywheel while minimizing its weight, what shape and distribution of mass should it have? Explain.

We know that the moment of inertia of any rotating body is directly proportional to the square of the distance from its rotational axis. In the case of a flywheel, the position of an individual particle from the rotational axis matters for determining its moment of inertia. So, in order to maximize the moment of inertia, while minimizing its weight, we have to make a flywheel with the maximum possible radius while having gaps in the body, i.e. having spoke-like structures to hold the wheel. A good example is cycle wheel, which has numerous spokes fitted in it. This increases the moment of inertia while decreasing the overall mass of the wheel, making the rotation easier, with lesser effort.


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