Three identical spherical shells, each of mass m and radius r are placed as shown in figure. Consider an axis XX' which is touching to two shells and passing through diameter of third shell. Moment of inertia of the system consisting of these three spherical shells about XX' axis is [figure]
- 165mr2
- 4mr2
- 115mr2
- 3mr2
Answer
(2) 4mr2
Solution
Moment of inertia of a thin spherical shell about a diameter = 23mr2.
Upper shell (axis along its diameter): I1 = 23mr2
Each lower shell (axis is a tangent; parallel axes theorem): I2 = I3 = 23mr2 + mr2 = 53mr2
I = 23mr2 + 2 53mr2 = 123mr2 = 4mr2
Answer: (2)