A uniform thin rod of mass and length is free to rotate about an axis through its midpoint
PHYSICS · Single correct · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Torque and Rotational Dynamics · Torque and Rotational Dynamics
Problem
A uniform thin rod of mass M and length L is free to rotate about an axis through its midpoint, perpendicular to its length. A small mass m=0.10M is rigidly attached to the rod at one of the positions listed below. Neglect the size of the small mass. For which attachment point does the rod’s rotational inertia about the given axis increase by the greatest amount?
(a) At a distance 0.40L from the midpoint
(b) At a distance 0.50L (the very end of the rod) from the midpoint
(c) At a distance 0.25L from the midpoint
(d) The increase is the same for all three positions because m is the same