Name: ______________________________________ Date/Time: _______________

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Curtin University Mark:

Engineering Foundation Year

Engineering Mechanics

Dynamics: Practical Test 3a

(45 minutes hands-on + 45 minutes analysis/interpretation)

Title Fixed Axis Rotation

Activity Type Reinforcement

Concepts Studied

Fixed axis rotation of machine components is very common in machinery and transport.
It is important to gain a good understanding of the relationship between applied torque
and angular acceleration – that is, Newton’s second law applied to rotating systems. The
angular acceleration, in turn, depends upon the moment of inertia of the rotating object.
This practical exercise will apply the equations of motion to an accelerating flywheel. The
accelerating torque is provided by a falling mass as its supporting cord unwinds from a
drum attached to the flywheel.

This activity uses a theoretical analysis to estimate the friction torque originating in the
axle support bearings.

Definitions
Moment of Inertia – For fixed-axis rotational motion it is the ratio of the resultant applied
torque to the resulting angular acceleration. It can be thought of as the reluctance of an
object to accelerate angularly.

Friction Torque – is an applied torque acting in the direction opposite to the rotation. Its
sources can be metal deformation in the bearings, imperfections in the bearings,
lubrication in the bearings or aerodynamic drag on the surface of the rotating parts.

Description of the Apparatus

The essential components that form the experimental apparatus are a horizontal shaft,
supported on two rolling element bearings, which in turn carries a solid cylindrical
aluminium flywheel. A cylindrical driving drum is also attached to the shaft that enables
a cord to be wound on it from which hangs a mass. The falling mass causes the flywheel
to rotate. An optical/electronic apparatus counts every quarter revolution of the flywheel.
Figure 1 is a photograph annotated with the principal components.
 4 light beam
interrupters for
optical counter Flywheel
Driving
Drum Bearing

Support
Frame

Counter

Cord

Falling
Mass

Figure 1. Photograph of the apparatus.

Predicted Acceleration
The experiment, described in the next section, allows a known length of cord to unwind
from the driving drum while the mass falls, thus accelerating the flywheel. If it is assumed
that the friction torque is constant, regardless of rotational speed, then the acceleration of
the system can be predicted. Appendix A contains the detailed kinetic analysis that
predicts that the system acceleration will be constant if the friction torque is constant.
Study that analysis and make sure that you understand it.

Preliminary Data Collection

It is seen from equation (A4) of appendix A that the following data will need to be
recorded:

Radius of the driving drum (r): _______________________ mm.

Mass of the falling mass (m): _______________________ kg.
Measured length of the cord between loop and the gauge mark (s): ____________ mm.

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The moment of inertia of the rotating parts can be determined by careful measurement of
the dimensions and mass of the components. Appendix B provides details of those
measurements and calculations. Transfer the calculated total moment of inertia from the
table in appendix B to here:

Moment of inertia of rotating parts (Io): ___________________ kgm2

Experimental Procedure

From a stationary start, a known length of cord will be allowed to unwind from the driving
drum. The two phases of the motion are to be timed.
• Phase one is the acceleration phase that occurs while the falling mass is attached by
the cord to the drum.
• Phase two follows from that time until the flywheel stops rotating.

1. Hook one end of the cord over the pin that extends radially from the driving drum.
Hook the falling mass onto the lower end of the cord.
2. By rotating the flywheel by hand (front upwards), neatly wind the cord onto the
drum until the gauge mark is just in contact (i.e. tangential) to the drum.
3. Reset the counter to zero.
4. Simultaneously release the flywheel and start the timer.
5. The instant the cord detaches from the pin, press the left button on the timer to
record the end of the acceleration phase, t1.
6. At the end of the deceleration phase, just as the flywheel comes to a halt, press the
timer button to record time, t2.
7. Repeat five times and record your results in Table 1.

Run Time: t1 Time: t2 Counter Revolutions

number Seconds Seconds = counter ÷ 4
1
2
3
4
5
Average

Table 1. Results

Analysis – Part 1: Kinematics of the accelerating system.

If the constant acceleration assumption is correct, the kinematic equations for constant
acceleration can be utilised. Recall:

Translational Rotational
v = u + at ω f = ω0 + αt
∆s = ut + 12 at 2 ∆θ = ω0t + 12 αt 2
v 2 = u 2 + 2a∆s ω 2f = ω02 + 2α∆θ

In this case, the motion of the falling mass has a fixed relationship to the motion of the
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flywheel as the vertical distance travelled by the falling mass, s, equals the length of cord
unwrapped from the circumference of the driving drum. Therefore, if θ is the angle of
rotation of the flywheel and r is the radius of the driving drum:

s = rθ
ds
= v = rθ = rω
dt
d 2s
2
= a = rθ = rα
dt

1. Determine the rectilinear acceleration of the falling mass during phase one.
2∆s
∆s = ut + 12 at 2 . Since u = 0, a0 −1 = 2 . The corresponding angular acceleration
t1
a 2∆s
of the flywheel is α 0 −1 = 0 −1 = 2 . Calculate the magnitude of a0-1 and α0-1.
r rt1

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2. Estimate the vertical velocity of the falling mass at the end of phase one, i.e. as the
cord detaches from the pin. v1 = u + at1 = at1 since u = 0. The corresponding
v a t
angular velocity of the flywheel is ω1 = 1 = 0 −1 1 . Calculate the magnitude of v1
r r
and ω1 .

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Analysis – Part 2: Kinematics of the decelerating system.

3. The duration of this deceleration phase is t2 − t1 . Transfer this duration from

Table 1 to here. td = t2 − t1 = _________________ seconds.

Determine the angular deceleration of the flywheel during phase two.

ω1
ω2 = ω1 + α1− 2td . Since ω2 = 0 , α1− 2 = − .
td

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4. Compare the total angular displacement of the flywheel during both phases of the
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 motion with the values predicted from the kinematic equations. The rotation during
phase one can be determined from the length of wound cord. s = rθ .
s
θ1 = radians. To convert to revolutions, divide by 2π radians/revolution. During
r
phase two the rotation can be predicted from ω22 = ω12 + 2α1−2 ∆θ . Rearranging,
ω22 − ω12 − ω12
∆θ = = since the final speed is zero. ω1 and α1− 2 were determined
2α1− 2 2α1− 2
in sections 2 and 3 above respectively.

Phase Rotation Rotation (rev’s) Rotation from

(radians) (divide radians by 2π to
Counter ÷ 4
give revolutions)
1 s
∆θ = =
r
2 − ω12
∆θ = =
2α
Total

Table 2

Comment on any difference between the total rotation calculated from kinematic
considerations and that measured by the counter.

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Analysis – Part 3: Kinetics of the decelerating flywheel.

5. Equation (A5) of appendix A shows that, if the friction torque is constant, its
magnitude can be estimated from knowledge of the deceleration and the moment
of inertia of the rotating shaft/flywheel.

− Tf
α= …(from appendix A, equation A5)
IO

Then − T f = I Oα1− 2

Calculate the friction torque. Recall that α1− 2 is negative.

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6. If the friction torque is assumed to be small, equation (A4) of appendix A shows

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 that the moment of inertia could be estimated from the measured angular
acceleration during phase one.

 g 
I O = mr 2  − 1 …(from appendix A, equation A4)
 α 0 −1r 
Estimate I O using this method and compare with the value determined in appendix
B. Comment on the effect that friction torque has had on this result.
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Assessment

The marking scale for this exercise will be as follows:

• Experiment – experimental procedure performed correctly (0.25)

• Experiment – accurate results, well presented (0.25)
• Analysis:
- analysis poorly attempted and wrong (0)
- analysis mostly correct and shows an average level of understanding (0.5)
- analysis fully correct and shows a high level of understanding (1.5)
• Discussion:
- poor attempt in answering discussion questions (0.25)
- answers showing average level of understanding (0.5)
- answers showing high level of understanding (1.0)

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Appendix A – Kinetic Analysis

We wish to predict, by analysis, whether the system acceleration will be constant or

otherwise. Let’s make two assumptions:
1. The frictional resisting torque at the bearings, Tf, is constant regardless of the
rotational speed ω.
2. The aerodynamic drag torque is small enough to be negligible. At the low speeds
encountered in this test, this is likely to be a valid assumption.

Figure A1 shows the two component masses drawn as free body diagrams.

As the flywheel and the descending mass are

connected by a non-stretching cord, their motions α
are dependent such that the vertical displacement
of the mass (y) equals the portion of the drum IO
circumference that passes any fixed point, y = rθ ROy
. The acceleration relationship is found by r
O
differentiating this with respect to time twice:
Tf ROx
y = rθ or, in alternative symbols, a = rα .
Mg
Flywheel Fixed axis rotation: ∑ M O = I Oα . F
− T f + Fr = I Oα …(A1)

Descending Mass Rectilinear translation:

∑ Fy = ma Figure A1 F
mg − F = ma …(A2)
but a = rα . ∴ mg − F = mrα m
or F = m(g − rα ) …(A3) a

Substituting (A3) into (A1):

mg
− T f + mr ( g − rα ) = I Oα
mgr − T f
Solving for α and a : α= ; a = rα …(A4)
I O + mr 2

All of the parameters of the right hand side of equation (A4) are constant and so we
conclude that, given our assumptions, the system acceleration will be constant.

During the phase of motion that follows the descending mass contacting the floor, the
flywheel decelerates due to the bearing friction torque Tf, which we have assumed to be
constant. The deceleration during this phase can also be predicted from equation (A4) by
assigning m = 0, which, from equation (A3), correctly gives the cord tension to be F = 0.
Then (A4) reduces to:

− Tf
α= ; a = rα …(A5)
IO

We see that during the deceleration phase the deceleration is also constant.

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 constant slope =
constant acceleration

Phase Phase time

one two

Figure A2 – Speed – time plot.

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Appendix B – Moment of Inertia of the Rotating Wheel and Drum

The rotating part of the experimental rig consists of a number of components mounted
coaxially on the shaft that is, in turn, supported in a pair of rolling element bearings. All
of the components are cylindrical in shape. The total moment of inertia of the rotating
object can be determined by summing the contribution from each of the cylinders.

In the lecture series it was shown that the moment of inertia of a solid cylinder, about its
axis of generation, is I O = 12 mr 2 = 12 π lρ r 4 and that of a ‘hollow’ cylinder (with a
concentrically bored hole) is I O = 12 m(ro2 + ri 2 ) = 12 π lρ (ro4 − ri 4 ) . In both cases, m is the
mass of the object, ρ is the material’s density and l is the axial length.

The table below provides measured data for the various components, along with the
calculated moments of inertia. Take particular note of the relative magnitudes of the
various components. Because of its small diameter, the steel shaft and its screwed locking
ring contribute only 0.27% of the total moment of inertia. On the other hand, due to their
large diameter, the 306 mm diameter aluminium disks contribute 99.17% of the total
moment of inertia. Over 80% of the total moment of inertia is contributed by the material
of the large diameter disks that is located between diameter 206 mm and the outer surface
of the drum, 306 mm diameter. These numbers reveal the effect that radius has on a
particle’s contribution to moment of inertia. It is due to the r 2 term in I O = ∫ r 2 dm .

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 Engineering Mechanics - Lab 3a - Flywheel Details
Component Diameter Length Mass Volume Density Moment of Moment of %
Outer Inner Inertia Inertia of
mm mm mm g m3 kg/m3 kg.m2 kg.m2 total

Disk 1 306.16 32.02 21.26 4111.00 1.548E-03 2644 4.848E-02

102.25 32.02 0.91 6.740E-06 2.557E-05 0.048509 41.19

Disk 2 306.16 32.02 21.22 4106.69 1.545E-03 2655 4.859E-02

58.95 32.02 0.91 1.751E-06 2.615E-06 0.048591 41.26

Sheet 1 306.16 32.02 0.92 182.00 6.699E-05 2717 2.156E-03

Sheet 2 306.16 32.02 2.53 497.38 1.842E-04 2700 5.891E-03
Sheet 3 306.16 32.02 2.53 495.56 1.842E-04 2690 5.870E-03
Sheet 4 306.16 32.02 0.92 181.74 6.699E-05 2713 2.153E-03
Count Disk 349.00 32.02 0.92 235.61 8.727E-05 2700 3.617E-03 0.019687 16.72

Drum 102.04 32.02 23.92 471.35 1.763E-04 2657 6.698E-04

47.46 32.02 1.11 1.070E-06 1.165E-06 0.000671 0.57

Shaft 12.70 31.00 1450.28 3.927E-06 8539 6.761E-07

28.50 60.00 3.828E-05 3.319E-05
31.00 29.00 2.189E-05 2.245E-05
32.02 65.00 5.234E-05 5.728E-05
47.48 10.16 1.799E-05 4.329E-05
28.46 49.50 3.149E-05 2.722E-05
12.70 31.00 3.927E-06 6.761E-07 0.000185 0.16

Locking Ring 59.00 31.00 15.97 242.67 3.161E-05 7678 1.347E-04 0.000135 0.11
Total Mass 11974.28 Total Moment of Inertia 0.1178 100.00
R.D. Entwi s tl e - Augus t 2016

Note: For the flywheel measured here, the large diameter cylinder consisted of six parts, plus the count disk. When
mounted on the shaft and clamped with the locking ring, these parts appear to be a single unit.

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