Past exam of the physics 1 paper of the University of Oxford / 2017 resit / 11

For a planar lamina in the $xy$-plane and three mutually perpendicular axes through one common point, the perpendicular axis theorem is $I_z=I_x+I_y$. Indeed $I_z=\int (x^2+y^2)dm$, while $I_x=\int y^{2}dm$ and $I_y=\int x^{2}dm$. Planarity and the common axis intersection are essential.

For two parallel axes, one through the centre of mass $G$ and one a perpendicular distance $d$ away, the parallel axis theorem iswhere $M$ is the total mass. Expanding the squared distance in the defining moment of inertia integral leaves a cross term proportional to $\int {\mathbf{r}}_{G}dm=0$. The second axis need not pass through the body, and uniform density is not required, but the reference axis for $I_G$ must pass through its centre of mass.

For a uniform disk, the surface mass density is $\sigma =m/(\pi a^2)$. Integrate concentric annuli of mass $dm=2\pi \sigma rdr$ about the central perpendicular axis:The result is specific to a uniform thin disk and that axis; it is not the diameter-axis moment of inertia, which is $m{a}^2/4$ by planar symmetry and the perpendicular axis theorem.

Let $O$ be the original disk centre and $C$ the hole centre. The source geometry has $OS=a$, $OC=CS=a/2$, all collinear. The removed disk has mass $m/4$, since its area is one quarter of the original disk's. Use the parallel axis theorem for both the original disk and the removed disk:Subtracting the missing material's moment of inertia givesHere $m$ continues to denote the original unperforated disk mass; the earring itself has mass $3m/4$.

Take the positive coordinate from $O$ toward $S$. The centre of mass of the remaining material has coordinateThus $SX=a+a/6=7a/6$. If $\varphi$ is the small angular displacement from the stable hanging orientation, gravity gives torque $-(3m/4)g(7a/6)\sin \varphi$ about the suspension point. The physical pendulum equation isUsing the small-angle approximation $\sin \varphi \simeq \varphi$ gives simple harmonic motion withBoth the reduced mass and displaced centre of mass matter; changing only the moment of inertia would give an incorrect frequency.