Past exam of the physics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / Paper 1 / B9 / Solution

About a specified axis, the moment of inertia is $I=\int r_{\perp }^{2}dm$, giving rotational kinetic energy $I{\omega }^2/2$ for fixed-axis rotation. With square coordinates centred on the plate,The in-plane inertia isotropy of a square plate follows using the perpendicular axis theorem, which gives $I_z=I_x+I_y=M{l}^2/6$. For any in-plane central axis at angle $\varphi$, the perpendicular in-plane axis has the same inertia by the square's $90^{\circ }$ rotational symmetry. Their sum is $I_z$, so every such in-plane axis has $I=M{l}^2/12$.

The parallel axis theorem gives hinge inertia $I_H=M{l}^2/3$. During the short impulse gravity is negligible, and the hinge impulse has no moment about the hinge. ThereforeThe hinge impulse of an edge-pivoted square plate follows from linear momentum: $J_H=Mv-K$. Taking its positive direction to be that of the applied impulse,Generally $K$ alone does not supply the centre-of-mass momentum compatible with rotation about the fixed hinge, so the hinge supplies the difference. Its impulse vanishes at the centre of percussion,