Physics Laboratory I Spring 2025 The University of Texas at Dallas

Lab Manual
Lab 8: Rotational Motion
➢ Before the lab, read the theory in Sections 1-3 and answer questions on Pre-lab. Submit
your Pre-lab at the beginning of the lab.
➢ During the lab, read Section 4 and follow the procedure to do the experiment. You will
record data sets, perform analyses, answer questions, and have Check Boxes checked
on Report Sheets. Submit your Report Sheets before you leave the lab.
❖ You are encouraged to have discussions with TA and other students, but you are re-
quired to do calculations and answer questions individually and independently.

1. Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to understand rotational motion—its causes and its mathematical de-
scription. The kinematic and dynamic equations that describe rigid rotating bodies essentially have
the same form (just with new variables) as those we already know for translational motion under
constant acceleration. We will also study the energy and angular momentum conservation in a ro-
tational system.

2. Key Concepts
• Angular position, angular velocity, and • Torque
angular acceleration • Rotational kinetic energy
• Momentum of inertia • Angular momentum conservation

3. Theory
We have studied the motion of objects undergoing constant acceleration, describing their be-
⃗ , velocity 𝒗
havior with kinematic equations relating position 𝒙 ⃗ , and acceleration 𝒂
⃗ . We also
know that the acceleration of an object is determined by its mass and the net force acting on it
⃗ = 𝑚𝒂
via Newton's second law, 𝑭 ⃗ . However, what about objects that do not move from one
place to another translationally, but instead rotate about an axis? It turns out the equations that
describe such rotating objects are closely related to the ones we already know for translational
motion.

3.1 Kinematic equation

For a rigid rotating object, instead of thinking about its spatial position 𝑥 (e.g., in one dimension),
which is the displacement from a starting point, we think about the angle it has rotated with re-
spect to its starting orientation. This is called the angular coordinate or angular position 𝜃, which
is the rotational analog of position. The rate of change of this angle in time is called the angular
velocity 𝝎⃗⃗⃗ , and the rate of change of the angular velocity is called the angular acceleration 𝜶 ⃗⃗ . In
other words, 𝝎 ⃗⃗⃗ and 𝜶
⃗⃗ are the rotational versions of 𝒗
⃗ and 𝒂
⃗ , respectively.
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The quantities 𝝎 ⃗⃗⃗ and 𝜶

⃗⃗ are vectors. Their magnitudes
⃗⃗⃗
𝝎 ⃗⃗⃗
𝝎
𝜔 and 𝛼 are clearly the vector lengths, but in what direc-
tion do they point? By convention illustrated in Figure 1,
you can use the right hand rule to determine their orien-
tation: curl the fingers of your right hand in the direction
Figure 1: Right-hand rule determining the
of rotation, and your thumb points in the direction of 𝝎 ⃗⃗⃗ ,
⃗⃗⃗ .
direction of angular velocity 𝝎
which is perpendicular to the rotation plane. If the
body's rotation is speeding up, 𝜶 ⃗⃗ and 𝝎
⃗⃗⃗ are in the same direction (parallel); if it is slowing down,
⃗⃗ and 𝝎
𝜶 ⃗⃗⃗ are in the opposite direction (anti-parallel).
For rotation that always lies on the same plane, 𝝎⃗⃗⃗ and 𝜶
⃗⃗ are 1D vectors and can hence be sim-
plified as scalars 𝜔 and 𝛼, respectively. Since the relation between 𝜃, 𝜔, and 𝛼 in rotational mo-
tion is analogous to that between displacement, velocity, and acceleration in translational motion,
we can write down the kinematic equations for constant angular acceleration by replacing trans-
lational variables with rotational ones,
Translational Rotational
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 𝑎𝑡 𝜔 = 𝜔0 + 𝛼𝑡
Δ𝑥 = 𝑣0 𝑡 + (1/2)𝑎𝑡 2 Δ𝜃 = 𝜔0 𝑡 + (1/2)𝛼𝑡 2 (𝟏)
2 2 2 2
𝑣 = 𝑣0 + 2𝑎 × Δ𝑥 𝜔 = 𝜔0 + 2𝛼 × Δ𝜃

3.2 Moment of inertia and torque

As an object's mass is a measure of how hard it is to get it moving when you push on it, an
object’s moment of inertia 𝐼 is a measure of how hard it is to get it rotating. It depends not only
on the total mass, but also on the distribution of the mass around the rotation axis. An object with
most of its mass concentrated near the rotation axis will be easier to start rotating (smaller mo-
ment of inertia) than one with the same total mass but where it is spread out far away from the
axis. Changing the geometry of an object or changing the axis it rotates about will change the
moment of inertia. The SI unit for
the moment of inertia is kg∙m2 Case Illustration I

Table 1 shows the moment of in- Solid disk with radius 𝑹 1

𝑀𝑅2
rotating about 𝒙 axis 4
ertia in three different rotation
cases that will be tested in this lab. Solid disk with radius 𝑹 1
𝑀𝑅2
If a system is composed of two ob- rotating about 𝒛 axis 2
jects with moment of inertia 𝐼1 and Ring with inner & outer
1
𝐼2 , respectively, rotating about the radii, 𝑹𝐢𝐧 & 𝑹𝐨𝐮𝐭 , rotat- 2
𝑀(𝑅in 2
+ 𝑅out )
ing about 𝒛 axis 2
same axis, the system’s total mo-
ment of inertia 𝐼 is simply the sum of Table 1: moment of inertia 𝑰 of objects with mass 𝑴.
the two objects, as 𝐼 = 𝐼1 + 𝐼2 .

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Consider that an object is driven by a

⃗ to rotate about an axis. The
force 𝑭
quantitative measure of the effect of ⃗𝑭
on rotational motion is call a torque 𝝉⃗,
⃗ =𝒓
defined by 𝝉 ⃗
⃗ × 𝑭. Here 𝒓 ⃗ is a spa-
tial vector that stretches perpendicu-
larly from the rotation axis to the point
on the object where 𝑭 ⃗ is applied. Given Figure 2: Left: rotational apparatus. Right: a top-down view.
⃗ being perpendicular to each other, which is the case of every experiment in this lab, the
⃗ and 𝑭
𝒓
magnitude of the torque is 𝜏 = 𝑟𝐹. The direction of the torque can be determined with the right
⃗ and wrap into ⃗𝑭, and your thumb will show the direction
hand rule: let your fingers point toward 𝒓
⃗ and ⃗𝑭. Since there are rotational
⃗ . It will always be perpendicular to the plane spanned by 𝒓
of 𝝉
analogues of force, mass, and acceleration, there is a rotational version of Newton's second law,
⃗ = 𝐼𝜶
𝝉 ⃗⃗ , (𝟐)
i.e., the net torque (sum of all torques) on an object equals to its moment of inertia times its
angular acceleration.
As shown in Figure 2, the experimental system includes a rotating object with a spindle of radius
𝑟 attached by a string over a pulley to a hanging mass 𝑚h , which provides a weight 𝑊h = 𝑚h 𝑔.
The string tension ⃗𝑻 exerts a torque 𝜏 = 𝑟𝑇 on the rotating object. The hanging mass, which only
moves translationally, and the rotating object, which just spins about its center, form a connected
system described by translational and rotational Newton's second laws, as
Hanging mass Rotating object
𝐹 = 𝑊h − 𝑇 = 𝑚h 𝑎, 𝜏 = 𝑟𝑇 = 𝐼𝛼 (𝟑)
In these two equations, the translational and angular accelerations, 𝑎 and 𝛼, are related to each
other. Because the string connects to the hanging mass and encircles the spindle, the hanger’s
translational displacement is related to the rotating object’s angular displacement by Δ𝑥 = 𝑟Δ𝜃.
According to the definition of velocity and acceleration, we also have
𝑣 = 𝑟𝜔, and 𝑎 = 𝑟𝛼. (𝟒)
With all the information above, one can compute the moment of inertia 𝐼 from the measured
hanging mass 𝑚h and angular acceleration 𝛼. You will derive the associated equations in Pre-lab
and use them in the experiment.

3.3 Energy and angular momentum conservation

A rotating object carries kinetic energy, which is of the same form as the kinetic energy of trans-
lational motion and is given by
1
𝐾rot = 𝐼𝜔2 . (𝟓)
2

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Physics Laboratory I Spring 2025 The University of Texas at Dallas

The rotational kinetic energy is considered as a type of mechanical energy and should be incorpo-
rated into the energy conservation law. For the system of Figure 2, if the friction can be ignored,
the total mechanical energy remains a constant at any time, or
𝑈 + 𝐾tran + 𝐾rot = constant, (𝟔)
where 𝑈 = 𝑚ℎ 𝑔ℎ is the gravitational potential energy of the hanging mass at height ℎ above the
1
floor, and 𝐾tran = 2 𝑚ℎ 𝑣 2 is the translational kinetic energy of the hanging mass.

Angular momentum of rotational motion, denoted by 𝐿, is the analog of the linear momentum
of translational motion and is defined as
𝐿 = 𝐼𝜔. (𝟕)
Conservation of angular momentum is a universal law of physics. It states that if the net external
torque exerted on a system is zero, the system’s total angular momentum is constant with time.
In this lab, we will examine the angular momentum conservation by having a rotating object A,
which has moment of inertia 𝐼𝐴 and initial angular velocity 𝜔𝑖 , in touch with a non-rotating ob-
ject B, which has moment of inertia 𝐼𝐵 . An internal torque will decelerate object A but acceler-
ate B, until they finally rotate at the same angular velocity 𝜔𝑓 . Since there is no external torque,
the initial and final total angular momenta of the system should be the same, or
𝐼𝐴 𝜔𝑖 = (𝐼𝐴 + 𝐼𝐵 )𝜔𝑓 . (𝟖)
It is a rotational version of completely inelastic collision of two objects (the translational version
has been analyzed in Lab 6). While the total angular momentum is conserved, there is a loss in
the system’s mechanical energy due to the internal friction.

Question (write down the answers in Pre-lab)

(1) Considering the setup in Figure 2, please use Eqs. (3)—(5) to show that
1. The torque exerted on the rotating object is
𝜏 = 𝑚ℎ 𝑟(𝑔 − 𝛼𝑟). (𝟗)
2. The total kinetic energy of the system is
1
𝐾total = (𝐼 + 𝑚ℎ 𝑟 2 )𝜔2 (𝟏𝟎)
2
In this lab, we will use these relations to compute key quantities from the measurements. For
example, we will use the measured 𝑚ℎ , 𝑟, and 𝛼 to compute the torque 𝜏, and then the moment
of inertia as 𝐼 = 𝜏/𝛼.
(2) In a real experiment with the setup of Figure 2, initially the disk is at rest, and the hanging mass
is placed 0.500 m above the floor. Then the hanging mass falls down until finally touches the
floor. Measurements show the hanging mass 𝑚ℎ = 0.191 kg, the spindle radius 𝑟 =
0.0251m, the disk’s average angular accleration 𝛼 = 3.551 rad/s2, and the disk’s final angular
velocity 𝜔𝑓 = 11.29 rad/s. Please compute the quantities below to 3 sig. figs. (hint: properly
use Eqs. (𝟏) − (𝟏𝟎) . Take 𝑔 = 9.80 m/s2.)
↓Use the measured 𝛼 to calculate 1–4↓ 5. Hanging mass’s initial potential energy 𝑈
1. Hanging mass’s acceleration 𝑎 ↓Use the measured 𝜔𝑓 to calculate 6–8↓
2. String tension 𝑇 6. Hanging mass’s final velocity 𝑣h
3. Torque exerted on disk 𝜏 7. Hanging mass’s final kinetic energy 𝐾h
4. Disk’s moment of inertia 𝐼 8. Disk’s final rotational kinetic energy 𝐾d

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Physics Laboratory I Spring 2025 The University of Texas at Dallas
−3 2
(3) A disk with moment of inertia 7.15 × 10 kg∙m initially rotates about its center at angular
velocity 11.14 rad/s. A non-rotating ring with moment of inertia 4.26 × 10−3 kg∙m2 right
above the disk’s center is suddenly dropped onto the disk. Finally, the two objects rotate at
the same angular velocity 𝜔𝑓 about the same axis. There is no external torque acting on the
system during the collision. Please compute the system’s quantities below to 3 sig. figs.
1. Initial angular momentum 𝐿𝑖 3. Final angular velocity 𝜔𝑓 (computed from 𝐿𝑖 )
2. Initial rotational kinetic energy 𝐾𝑖 4. Final rotational kinetic energy 𝐾𝑓 (from 𝜔𝑓 )

4. Experiment
4.1 Equipment
• Triple beam balance • Mass hanger
• Mechanical scale • Rotational motion apparatus
• Set of masses • Rotational objects: disk and ring
• Meter stick • Pulley
• Vernier caliper • Computer with Logger Pro software

4.2 Procedure
In Part I, you will apply a torque to rotate an object and measure the angular acceleration, so
you can analyze the object’s moment of the inertia. In Part II, you will experimentally examine
the energy conservation law when the rotational motion is involved. In Part III, you will make a
completely inelastic collision between a rotating object and a non-rotating object, and examine
the angular momentum conservation law.

Part I: Moment of the inertia

1. Measure the bare hanger’s mass and record on Report Sheets. Reset the balance weights
after measurement.
2. Remove the disk and
ring from the rotational
apparatus so you can
see the spindle with a 3-
step pulley. Unwind the Figure 3: Measuring the size of the spindle pulley and the ring.
string and use the caliper to measure the diameter of largest pulley of the spindle (see Figure
3). Make sure that you are measuring the inner groove (dashed circle) where the string will
actually be wrapped. In each trial, you do
the measurement at a different position of
the groove (why?). Record the diameter 𝐷
on Table R1 on Report Sheets.
3. Use the caliper to measure the inner diam-
eter 𝐷in and the thickness Δ of the metal
ring, as shown in Figure 3 (in each trial, you
do the measurement at a different posi-
tion). Record the measurements on Table Figure 4: Setup of rotational apparatus
R1 on Report Sheets.

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4. Bring the metal ring to the mechanical scale and measure its mass 𝑀ring (make sure that
you read the tick marks corresponding to kg). Record the measurements on Table R1 on
Report Sheets. (Mechanical scales are shared by all groups. Ask TA if you cannot find it.)
5. Put on the disk vertically so the setup looks like Case 1 in Figure 4.
6. Download the Lab 8 Rotation file from eLearning -> Logger Pro Files and open it. (Check that
the photogate is connected to port Dig 1.) There should be data columns on the left and
three graphs on the right: angle (rad) vs. time (s), angular velocity (rad/s) vs. time (s), and
angular acceleration (rad/s 2 ) vs. time (s).
7. Connect the hanger to the string and drape the string over the horizontal pulley (as shown
in Figure 4). Put 50 g on the hanger. Spin the disk to wind up the string on the largest pulley
of the spindle, until the hanger gets to the maximum height. You will always use the largest
pulley in this lab.
8. Hold the disk steady, click Collect , and when the software starts, release the disk.
9. Stop the data collection by clicking Stop after the hanger hits the floor. Click Autoscale
to properly rescale the graph.
10. Select a proper range in angular velocity vs. time graph and click Linear Fit to obtain the
angular acceleration (slope). Record it in Table R2 on Report Sheets.
11. Do the rest trials and mass configurations (remember to always wind up the string on the
largest pulley). Do the case of a horizontal disk (Case 2 in Figure 4) and that case of a disk
plus a ring (Case 3 in Figure 4). Complete Table R2 on Report Sheets. (Use Excel to compute
the statistics of measurements.)

Check point 1
Ask your TA to check your data recorded and get their initials on Check Box 1 on Report Sheets.

Part II: Energy conservation

1. Set up the horizontal-disk case (Case 2 in Figure 4). Put 100 g on the hanger. Spin the disk to
wind up the string until the hanger’s bottom is 50 cm above the floor.
2. Hold the disk steady, click Collect , and when the software starts, release the disk.
3. Stop the data collection by clicking Stop after the hanger hits the floor. Click Au-
toscale to properly rescale the graph.
4. Find the final angular velocity at the time when the hanger hits the floor, which should be
the maximum of the angular velocity vs time graph (why?). To read out the value, select a
proper range of graph that contains the maximum point. Click Statistics and record the
maximum value in Table R3 on Report Sheets.
5. Do the rest trials. Do the disk-plus-ring case (Case 3 in Figure 4). Complete Table R3 on Re-
port Sheets. (Use Excel to compute the statistics of measurements.)

Part III: Angular momentum conservation

1. Set up the horizontal-disk case (Case 2 in Figure 4) with the groove on the disk facing upward.
Take off the mass hanger from the string. Spin the disk to wind up the string and still drape
the string over the horizontal pulley. (The string itself should have a negligible effect on the

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Physics Laboratory I Spring 2025 The University of Texas at Dallas

rotation, but we still drape it properly so it will not get tangled and hence interfere with the
rotation.)
2. Two students work together. Student 1 holds the disk steady. Student
2 holds the ring about 1 cm (~1/2 inch) right above the groove of the
disk but does not let the ring touch the disk, as shown in Figure 5.
3. Click Collect . When the software starts, Student 1 gently gives the
disk a spin.
4. After a stably constant angular velocity is recorded (for a few seconds),
Student 2 drops the ring onto the spinning disk (the ring should fit the Figure 5: The ring 1
groove). cm above the disk
5. After the collision, continue to take data for a few seconds. Stop the without touching.
data collection by clicking Stop . Click Autoscale to properly rescale the graph.
6. The angular velocity vs. time graph should show a clear drop in a narrow time range due to
the collision. Find the initial angular velocity 𝜔𝑖 right before the collision and the final angular
velocity 𝜔𝑓 right after the collision. You can identify and read out the values from the col-
umns of data in Logger Pro. Record them in Table R4 on Report Sheets.
7. Do the rest trials. It is OK to have a different initial angular velocity of the disk for each trial.
Complete Table R4 on Report Sheets.

Check point 2
Ask your TA to check your data recorded and get their initials on Check Box 2 on Report Sheets.

4.3 Analyses

I. Moment of inertia (write on Report Sheets)

1) Predict the ring’s moment of inertia from its geometry and mass.
2) Compute the moment of inertia for each rotation case.
3) Compare the moment of inertia between a disk rotating about its diameter and about its
center.
4) Compare the experimental value of the ring’s moment of inertia with the predicted
value.
5) Discuss factors that moment of inertia is dependent on or independent of.

II. Energy conservation (write on Report Sheets)

1) Compute the initial potential energy, final kinetic energy, and the energy loss rate from
the measurements.
2) Make a conclusion about the conservation law based on the results.

III. Angular momentum conservation (write on Report Sheets)

1) Compute the initial/final angular momenta, initial/final kinetic energies, and their loss
rate from the measurements.
2) Make a conclusion about the conservation law based on the results.

• Please clean up, recover your work station, and sign out of the computer before leaving.