NVAMediumJEE 2026Moment of Inertia & Radius of Gyration

JEE Physics 2026 Question with Solution

Suppose there is a uniform circular disc of mass MM kg and radius rr m shown in figure. The shaded regions are cut out from the disc. The moment of inertia of the remainder about the axis AA of the disc is given by x256Mr2\frac{x}{256}Mr^2. The value of xx is _____.

A circular disc with axis A through its center, with two shaded circular cut-out regions symmetrically placed inside the disc.

Answer

Correct answer:109

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A uniform circular disc has mass MM and radius rr. Two circular regions are cut out.

Find: The value of xx in

Iremainder=x256Mr2I_{\text{remainder}} = \frac{x}{256}Mr^2

Use additivity of moment of inertia and treat each hole as removed mass.

Area mass density of the original disc is

σ=Mπr2\sigma = \frac{M}{\pi r^2}

The cut-out regions are two circles of radius

a=r4a = \frac{r}{4}

whose centers are at distance

d=3r4d = \frac{3r}{4}

from axis AA.

Mass of one cut-out circle is

m=σπa2=Mπr2π(r4)2=M16m = \sigma \pi a^2 = \frac{M}{\pi r^2}\pi\left(\frac{r}{4}\right)^2 = \frac{M}{16}

Moment of inertia of one cut-out about its own center is

Icm=12ma2=12(M16)(r4)2=Mr2512I_{cm} = \frac{1}{2}ma^2 = \frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{M}{16}\right)\left(\frac{r}{4}\right)^2 = \frac{Mr^2}{512}

Using the parallel axis theorem, moment of inertia of one cut-out about the main axis is

Ihole=Icm+md2=Mr2512+M16(3r4)2I_{\text{hole}} = I_{cm} + md^2 = \frac{Mr^2}{512} + \frac{M}{16}\left(\frac{3r}{4}\right)^2 Ihole=Mr2512+9Mr2256=Mr2+18Mr2512=19Mr2512I_{\text{hole}} = \frac{Mr^2}{512} + \frac{9Mr^2}{256} = \frac{Mr^2 + 18Mr^2}{512} = \frac{19Mr^2}{512}

Total moment of inertia removed for two holes is

2Ihole=2×19Mr2512=19Mr22562I_{\text{hole}} = 2 \times \frac{19Mr^2}{512} = \frac{19Mr^2}{256}

Moment of inertia of the original full disc about axis AA is

Itotal=12Mr2=128Mr2256I_{\text{total}} = \frac{1}{2}Mr^2 = \frac{128Mr^2}{256}

Therefore, moment of inertia of the remainder is

Iremainder=Itotal2Ihole=12819256Mr2=109256Mr2I_{\text{remainder}} = I_{\text{total}} - 2I_{\text{hole}} = \frac{128 - 19}{256}Mr^2 = \frac{109}{256}Mr^2

Hence,

x=109x = 109

So the required numerical value is 109.

The solution lists Correct Answer: 236, but the worked solution clearly gives

Iremainder=109256Mr2I_{\text{remainder}} = \frac{109}{256}Mr^2

Therefore, the answer derived from the solution working is 109.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the holes as extra masses instead of removed masses is incorrect. The moment of inertia of the cut-out regions must be subtracted from that of the full disc. Use Iremainder=IwholeIremovedI_{\text{remainder}} = I_{\text{whole}} - I_{\text{removed}}.

  • Using the formula 12Mr2\frac{1}{2}Mr^2 directly for each small cut-out about axis AA is wrong because that formula is about the cut-out's own center. First find IcmI_{cm}, then apply the parallel axis theorem.

  • Forgetting that there are two identical holes leads to underestimating the removed moment of inertia. After finding the contribution of one hole, multiply by 22.

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