FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL

ENGINEERING
MECE 222 – DYNAMICS
LAB REPORT – ROLLING DISC ON AN INCLINED PLANE

COURSE: MECHATRONICS AND INDUSTRIAL

INSTRUMENTATION

NAME STUDENT ID
GAME RADIRA 21000499
TLOTLO RANKGWATHI 21000503
GOBAKWE NKGALO 21001376
NICOLAS BOSELE 21000711
BAKANG MOFALADI 21000463

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Contents
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................................................5
MATERIALS..............................................................................................................................................6
THEORY.....................................................................................................................................................7
PROCEDURE...........................................................................................................................................10
PART 1 Inclined plane..........................................................................................................................10
PART 2 Oscillating disc........................................................................................................................11
RESULTS PROCESSING.........................................................................................................................12
DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................................................17
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................19

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ABSTRACT

The mass moment of inertia of a disc is an important parameter in the study of rotational
dynamics. In this experiment, two different methods were used to measure the mass moment of
inertia of disc specimens, and the results were compared with the theoretical values. The first
method involved rolling the disc down an inclined plane, while the second method involved
oscillating the disc with an added pendulum. The experimental results were analyzed and
compared with the theoretical values to determine the accuracy of the methods.

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INTRODUCTION

Rolling disc on an inclined plane is a well-known experiment that examines the motion of objects on an
inclined surface. This experiment involves releasing a disc at the top of an inclined plane and watching it
roll down the slope. The experiment's goal is to comprehend how the disc's motion, acceleration, and
speed are influenced by the incline's angle. This experiment highlights several important ideas, including
the connection between force, motion, and energy. The disc receives the initial potential energy from the
gravitational force pressing on it, which is later transformed into kinetic energy as the disc begins to
descend the inclined plane. Frictional forces are generated as the disc moves, which can either slow down
or speed up the motion of the disc depending on the inclined plane's inclination and the characteristics of
the disc's surface (Principles of Mechanics, Freedman, R. A., and Young, H. D. 2015). The moment of
inertia of an object is a critical property that reveals how resistant it is of object to rotational motion. The
objective of this experiment is to determine the moment of inertia of a rolling disc by measuring its
acceleration down an inclined plane. The motion of the rolling disc is examined using the motion and
torque equations (The Rolling Ball, Robert G. Fuller, 2013).

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OBJECTIVES

To use two methods of measuring the mass moment of inertia of disc specimens and to compare
the results with the theoretical values. The methods are;
 Rolling the disc down an inclined plane
 Oscillating the disc with an added pendulum

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MATERIALS

 Pair of profiled extrusions, 1.5 meters long

 Separators
 Levelling feet (2 for one end and 3 for the circular base)
 Adjustable long support rod
 Two knife-edges
 Circular base
 Steel discs (2)
 Axles (2)
 Diametric threaded hole
 Pendulum and bob (for second method of measurement

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THEORY

The moment of inertia, denoted by I, is a physical quantity that describes an object's resistance to
rotational motion. It is defined as the sum of the products of the mass of each particle of an object and the
square of its distance from the axis of rotation.
I = ∑mr^2
Potential energy of the disc at the top of the incline is converted to kinetic energy of translation and
rotation at the bottom.

relation between linear velocity v and angular velocity Ѡ is given by

V
Ѡ=
r
Where r is the axle radius.
The final velocity is twice the average, hence
2L
V=
t
Where t is the time over length L
Equating energy terms, with M = total mass of disc
1 2 1 2
MgH = M y + lω
2 2
Rearranging the above we get:

2M y2
I= ( gH− )
ω2 2

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Substituting for  and simplifying yields

2 gH t 2
I =M r ( 2
−1)
2L

To create a graph from the experiment's data, the expression must be matched to the form of y = mx + c.
This can be achieved by rearranging the equation and then taking the logarithm of both sides.

(
2 L2 1
g Mr 2 )
−1 =H t
2

log k = log H + 2 log t

log t = ½ log H + ½ log k

y = mx + c

To analyze the experimental data, plot the logarithm of time (t) versus the logarithm of angular
momentum (H) for each disc, and determine the best-fit straight line for each plot. The gradient
of both lines should be -½. From these lines, determine the values of c and find the antilog of 2c,
which will be equal to k. Then, calculate the moment of inertia using the experimental data.
2 gk
I =M r ( 2
−1)
2L

The system consists of a disc and pendulum bob treated as a compound pendulum, where the center of
rotation is assumed to be at point P in the diagram for small oscillation amplitudes. To simplify the
calculation, the mass of the pendulum rod and bob is considered to act at the center of the bob. As the
system oscillates in simple harmonic motion, the time taken for one complete cycle, known as the
periodic time T, can be calculated.
Angular displacement
T = 2π Angular acceleration

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 θ
mglθ
T =2 π √( )
IP

hence
2
T
I P= 2
mgl
4π
Where m = bob mass
t = effective length of pendulum
Now using the parallel axes theorem
IP = I + Mr2 + Ibob + m(l - r)2

T 2 mgl 2 2
I= 2
−M r −I bob −m(I −r )
4π
There is a small issue with evaluating Ibob, but it has been recommended to approximate its mass
as that of a sphere with an equivalent mass moment of inertia (I) of 9 kg mm2, calculated using
the formula I = 0.4 mr2.
Instead of plotting separate graphs of time versus number of oscillations for each set of data, it
may be adequate to determine the average period of oscillation using the given formula.
t
T
n

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PROCEDURE

PART 1 Inclined plane

Before conducting the experiment, the mass of each disc and the pendulum bob should be
determined, and the dimensions of the discs should be checked. Additionally, the distance of the
center of the pendulum bob from the center of the disc axle should be measured when it has been
fitted for Part 2.
Table 1 showing the known properties of the discs.
Known Variables Large disc Small disc
Diameter of disc 150.0 100.0
Thickness of disc 22.5 20.0
Diameter of shaft 12.5 12.5
Protruding length 131.0 131.0
Mass of disc (kg) 3.2 1.4

Figure 1 Inclined plane of rolling disc

The inclined plane was placed on a firm bench, and the support rod was adjusted using the
thumbscrew until the plane was roughly level.
The spirit level was laid across the two rails, and the levelling feet were adjusted to level them.
The spirit level was placed along one rail, and the support rod was adjusted to level the rail.
The height from the bench to the underside of the front rail at each end was measured and
recorded in Table 1.
The larger disc was put on the rails at the support rod end, and its position was marked. A similar
mark was made 1.2 meters along the rail.
The disc was removed, and that end of the rails was raised about 40 mm, fixing the support rod
accordingly.
The heights at each end of the underside of the front rail were measured and recorded.

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The larger disc was placed on the high end of the rails, and the axle was lined up perpendicular
to the rails, holding it while preparing to use the stopwatch.
The time taken for the released disc to roll itself 1.2 m down the inclined rails was measured.
This was repeated using the smaller disc, and the results were recorded in Table 1.
The rails were raised about a further 40 mm, and the height and time measurements were
repeated.
This was repeated twice more, obtaining four sets of readings altogether in addition to the level
datum heights.

PART 2 Oscillating disc

The knife-edge apparatus was placed on a firm bench.

The spirit level was laid across the base in line with two of the feet and used to level the base.
The spirit level was put at right angles to its first position and the third foot was used to finish
levelling the base.
The pendulum and bob were fitted to the large disc and the disc was placed with its axle
perpendicular to the knife-edges.
The assembly was checked to ensure that it could oscillate gently and freely on the knife-edges.
The length of the pendulum was measured and noted.
Using the stopwatch, a counted number of small amplitude oscillations of the assembly were
timed as directed in Table 2.
The time was recorded in Table 2.
The pendulum was transferred to the small disc and the whole procedure was repeated.

Figure 2, DISC pendulum

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RESULTS PROCESSING

Table 1 showing the all the calculated values

Overal 1.57 Length 1.2 m 1200

length m of rails mm
of rails
Table 1
Inclination of rails Rolling times
Suppor Feet Differenc Height Log H Large disc Small disc
t end a end e h (mm) for t(s) log t large t(s) log t small
(mm) b 1.2m disc disc
(mm H
) (mm)
55 48 - Level - - - - -
95 48 40 30.57 1.4852954 27.9 1.4456042 18.3 1.2624510
134 48 79 60.38 1.7808931 19.0 1.2801228 12.2 1.0863598
6
175 48 120 91.72 1.9624640 14.6 1.1643528 9.6 0.9822712
215 48 160 122.29 2.08739094 12.6 1.10037054 8.1 0.90848501
5 5 9

Plot of Log T against Log H

Log t vs Log H
12

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Log H log t large disc Linear (log t large disc)

log t small disc Linear (log t small disc)

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 Velocity Table   ω Table   I table
Large disc Small disc   Large disc Small disc   Large disc Small disc
86.02150538 131.147541   1.146953405 2.62295082   -16644389.44 -3257307.737
125.9181532 196.7213115   1.678908709 3.93442623   -16759200.82 -3271685.075
164.3835616 250   2.191780822 5   -16906285.14 -3277824.494
190.4761905 296.2962963   2.53968254 5.925925926   -16914692.71 -3282761.702

The procedure for PART 2 was followed to produce the following results.

Pendulum length 128 mm

Table 2
Large disc Small disc
No of swings Time t
No of swings (n) Time t (s) (n) (s)
4 7.0 20 19.4
6 10.9 15 14.4
8 14.4 15 14.4
10 18.3 10 9.6
10 18.5 20 19.6
6 10.9 20 19.7
8 14.6 10 9.8
10 18.5 10 9.6
4 7.1 15 14.8
6 10.9 10 9.8

Calculations
Icylinder = ½Mr²
= ½(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.2 m)^2)(0.01 m)^2
= 0.0087355 kg m^2
The moment of inertia of each axle can be calculated as:
Iaxle = ½Mr²
= ½(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.02 m)^2)(0.15 m)^2
= 0.00222675 kg m^2

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The moment of inertia of the coned end is calculated as:
Icone = 3/10Mh^2 + 3/20Mr^2
= 3/10(7850 kg/m^3)(1/3(0.02 m)(0.05 m)^2)(0.15 m)^2 + 3/20(7850 kg/m^3)(π(0.05 m)^2)
(0.15 m)^2
= 0.0003425625 kg m^2

The total moment of inertia of the disc and protruding axles (I) can be calculated using the
parallel axis theorem:
I = Icylinder + 2(Iaxle + m(I - r)^2) + Icone
= 0.0087355 kg m^2 + 2(0.00222675 kg m^2 + 1.5 kg((0.15 m) - (0.1 m))^2) + 0.0003425625
kg m^2
= 0.0238124375 kg m^2

Substituting the values of T, mgl, Ip, Ibob, and I into the equation for I, we get:

I = ((T^2mgl)/(4π²)) - Mr² - Ibob - m(I - r)²

= ((0.972965517^2)(148170.24))/(4π²) - (0.1^2) - 9 - (1.5*((0.15 - 0.1)^2))
= 0.0237128082 kg m^2
Moment of inertia
2
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×mass × r
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×0.312 kg ×75 mm 2
moment of enertia ( I ) =2.925 kg m 2

 Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r² = 0.000252 kg m²

moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×mass × r 2

2
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.5 ×0.129 kg × 6.25 mm
2
moment of enertia ( I ) =0.000252 kg m

 Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01296 L = 0.102 kg

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 Protruding axles (2x):
Height (h) = protruding length = 131.0 mm

Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 6.25 mm

Volume = πr²h = 16429.8 mm³ = 0.01643 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01643 L = 0.129 kg

Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r² = 0.000252 kg m²

 Coned end (estimated):

Height (h) = 22.5 mm (same as disc thickness)

Radius at top (r1) = 75.0 mm (same as disc radius)

Radius at bottom (r2) = 15.0 mm (estimated)

Volume = (1/3) * π * h * (r1² + r1r2 + r2²) = 12960.2 mm³ = 0.01296 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01296 L = 0.102 kg

Moment of inertia (I) = (1/10) * mass * (3r1² + 3r2² + 2r1r2) = 0.105 kg m²

mass=density × volume
mass=7850 kg /m3 ×0.01296 l
mass=0.102 kg

Total moment of inertia of large disc = 2 * 0.000252 kg m² + 0.105 kg m² + 2.925 kg m²

= 3.205 kg m²

For the small disc:

 Cylinder:
Height (h) = thickness of disc = 20.0 mm

Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 50.0 mm

Volume = πr²h = 15708.9 mm³ = 0.01571 L

Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01571 L = 0.123 kg

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  Protruding axles (2x):
Height (h) = protruding length = 131.0 mm
Radius (r) = diameter / 2 = 6.25 mm
Volume = πr²h = 16429.8 mm³ = 0.01643 L
Mass = density * volume = 7850 kg/m³ * 0.01643 L = 0.129 kg
Moment of inertia (I) = 0.5 * mass * r²
= 0.773 kg m²
The total moment of inertia of the small disc including the coned end is:
I_small = (1/2)M_r^2 + M_disc(R_disc^2 + (h_disc/12)^2) + I_cone
= (1/2)(1.4 kg)(0.131 m)^2 + (1.4 kg)(0.05 m)^2 + (4.16e-8 kg m^2)
= 0.0002123 kg m^2

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DISCUSSION

Two techniques were used in the lab experiment to determine the mass moment of inertia of the
disc specimens: rolling down an incline and oscillating with an additional pendulum. The
equations for rotational motion, the period of oscillation, and the known parameters of the discs
were used to compute the mass moment of inertia of the disc. In the experiment, the duration of a
big and small disc's descent down incline rails at four different heights was timed. Table 1
contains the disc's known characteristics. According to the results, the rolling time for both the
big and small discs reduced as the slope of the rails rose.
To assess the methods' correctness, the findings were noted and contrasted with each other. As
seen from the results analysis that the mass moment of inertia for the small disc was
0.0002123Kg/m^2 and that of large disc was 3.205Kg/m^2 and this shows that the difference
between the two was large. The mass moment of inertia for the pendulum on the large disc was -
16806142.02Kg/m^2 and that of the small disc was -3272394.752Kg/m^2 which also showed a
large variation between the two. The main source of errors in the experiment appeared to be the
time measurements, which were affected by a variety of factors such as air resistance, friction,
the stickers that were on the equipment which did not allow a smooth free rolling by the discs
and human reaction time.

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CONCLUSION

The experimental values obtained from the two methods were not consistent with each other.
The experiment might improved by reducing the number of inaccuracies that might have been
caused by the measurement errors, friction, and air resistance. The techniques employed in this
experiment offer a reliable and reasonable means to calculate the mass moment of inertia of disc
specimens, although caution and thorough validation must be exercised to reduce sources of
error in the calculations.

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REFERENCES

Freedman, R. A., & Young, H. D. (2015). University Physics with Modern Physics, Technology
Update (14th ed.). Pearson Education.
Fuller, R. G. (2013). The rolling ball. Acta Physica Polonica A, 124(2), 372-376. (Freedman,
2015)

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