A 500 -g uniform sphere of \(7.0\) -cm radius spins frictionlessly at 30 rev/s
on an axis through its center. Find its ( \(a\) ) \(\mathrm{KE}_{r}\), (b) angular
momentum, and ( \(c\) ) radius of gyration.
We need the moment of inertia of a uniform sphere about an axis through its
center. From \(\underline{\text { Fig. } 10-1}\),
$$I=\frac{2}{5} M r^{2}=(0.40)(0.50 \mathrm{~kg})(0.070
\mathrm{~m})^{2}=0.00098 \mathrm{~kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}$$
(a) Knowing that \(\omega=30 \mathrm{rev} / \mathrm{s}=188 \mathrm{rad} /
\mathrm{s}\), we have
$$\mathrm{KE}_{r}=\frac{1}{2} I \omega^{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left(0.00098
\mathrm{~kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\right)(188 \mathrm{rad} /
\mathrm{s})^{2}=0.017 \mathrm{~kJ}$$
Notice that \(\omega\) must be in \(\mathrm{rad} / \mathrm{s}\).
(b) Its angular momentum is
$$L=I \omega=\left(0.00098 \mathrm{~kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2}\right)(188
\mathrm{rad} / \mathrm{s})=0.18 \mathrm{~kg} \cdot \mathrm{m}^{2} /
\mathrm{s}$$
(c) For any object, \(I=M k^{2}\), where \(k\) is the radius of gyration.
Therefore,
$$k=\sqrt{\frac{I}{M}}=\sqrt{\frac{0.00098 \mathrm{~kg} \cdot
\mathrm{m}^{2}}{0.50 \mathrm{~kg}}}=0.044 \mathrm{~m}=4.4 \mathrm{~cm}$$
Notice that this is a reasonable value in view of the fact that the radius of
the sphere is \(7.0 \mathrm{~cm}\).