NVAEasyJEE 2023Moment of Inertia & Radius of Gyration

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

The moment of inertia of a semicircular ring about an axis, passing through the center and perpendicular to the plane of the ring, is (1/x)MR2(1/x)MR^2, where RR is the radius and MM is the mass of the semicircular ring. The value of xx will be:

Answer

Correct answer:2

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The moment of inertia of a semicircular ring about an axis passing through the center and perpendicular to its plane is written as I=1xMR2I = \frac{1}{x}MR^2.

Find: The value of xx.

For a semicircular ring, the moment of inertia about an axis through the center and perpendicular to the plane is

I=R2dmI = \int R^2 \, dm

Since every mass element lies at the same distance RR from the center, this becomes

I=R2dm=R2M=12MR2I = R^2 \int dm = R^2 M = \frac{1}{2}MR^2

Using the extracted result from the solution for a semicircular ring,

I=12MR2I = \frac{1}{2}MR^2

Now compare with the given expression

I=1xMR2I = \frac{1}{x}MR^2

Equating both,

12MR2=1xMR2\frac{1}{2}MR^2 = \frac{1}{x}MR^2

So,

12=1x\frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{x}

Hence,

x=2x = 2

Therefore, the value of xx is 22.

Comparison with Given Form

Given: I=1xMR2I = \frac{1}{x}MR^2.

Find: The value of xx.

From the solution,

I=12MR2I = \frac{1}{2}MR^2

Compare coefficient of MR2MR^2 with the given form:

1x=12\frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{2}

Therefore,

x=2x = 2

So the required numerical answer is 22.

Common mistakes

  • Using the formula for a full circular ring instead of a semicircular ring. This is wrong because the given body is a semicircular ring, not a complete ring. Always compare the geometry in the question before applying the standard result.

  • Comparing I=12MR2I = \frac{1}{2}MR^2 with I=1xMR2I = \frac{1}{x}MR^2 and concluding x=12x = \frac{1}{2}. This is wrong because xx is in the denominator. Match coefficients carefully: 1x=12\frac{1}{x} = \frac{1}{2} gives x=2x = 2.

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