Two identical small spheres, each of mass 0.40kg, are rigidly fastened to the ends of a light, thin rod of length 0.60m. The rod’s own mass may be neglected. A pivot is located on the rod at a point 0.18m from the left-hand sphere, with the pivot axis perpendicular to the rod and fixed in space.
(a) Calculate the rotational inertia of the system about an axis perpendicular to the rod and passing through its midpoint. Express your answer in SI units.
(b) Determine the rotational inertia of the system about the actual pivot axis described above. Show all steps leading to your numerical result.
(c) Briefly discuss how relocating the pivot closer to one sphere rather than the other influences both the rotational inertia and the ease with which the system can be set into rotational motion.