PASCO ME-6694 TORSION PENDULUM - Manual (Page 20)

16
Torsion Pendulum 012–06339A
Questions
1. The experiment demonstrated that the magnitude of the moment of inertia of a disk can be
determined two ways: using the torsional spring constant of a wire (
κ ) and the period of
oscillation of the Torsion Pendulum (T), applying the relationship I =
T
2
π
2
κ
and by
measuring the mass and diameter of the disk and applying the relationship I =
1
2
mR
2 .
2. The calculated magnitude of I is approximately the same using either method. However,
some experimental error is to be expected, particularly since some portions contributing to
I (the pulley, axle, etc.) were not included in the calculation of I from using mass and radius
measurements, but were included in the calculation of I using the torsional spring constant
of the wire and period of oscillation of the Torsion Pendulum.
The same comments apply to Part C.