Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / ia / Paper 4 / 11E / Solution

The parallel axis theorem states $I_O=I_G+m{d}^2$ for two parallel axes, one through the centre of mass and the other a perpendicular distance $d$ away. To see this, expand the squared distance to the translated axis in the mass integral; its mixed term vanishes because the centroidal first moment is zero.

For a uniform solid hemisphere, the moment about a diameter in its flat face is half the corresponding full-sphere moment. With full-sphere mass $2m$, it is $\frac{1}{2}[\frac{2}{5}(2m)a^2]=2m{a}^2/5$. The original PDF gives the centroidal displacement $d=3a/8$; the TeX's $3a/5$ is incorrect. Moving the diameter axis to its parallel centroidal axis therefore yieldsThis is the moment of inertia of a uniform solid hemisphere, not that of a thin hemispherical shell.

Take a cross-section perpendicular to the rotation axis. Let $O$ be the underlying sphere centre, $G$ the centre of mass and $P$ the contact point. During rounded-surface contact, $OP=a$ vertically and $OG=d$ points toward the curved face, with downward component $d\cos \theta$. ThereforeFor rolling without slipping, $P$ is instantaneously at rest and the body rotates about it with angular speed $|\dot{\theta }|$. Thus the centroid speed is $b|\dot{\theta }|$. Translation and rotation contributeThe initial vertical base has $\theta =\pi /2$ and $K=0$, so conserved energy is $mga$. Equating the later $K+V$ to this value givesOn the initial roll toward the lowest centroid position, $\dot{\theta }<0$. Static contact friction does no work because the contacting material point is at rest; its coefficient must be large enough for the assumed no-slip motion. The formula describes the rounded-contact phase of the rolling uniform solid hemisphere and should not be continued through a change of contact geometry without another model.