The Anatomy of Rotational Inertia
Imagine trying to spin a heavy barbell. If you grab it by the center, it's relatively easy to twirl. But if you grab it by one end, it suddenly feels incredibly stubborn and hard to rotate.
This physical intuition is the heart of Moment of Inertia. It tells us how difficult it is to change the rotational state of an object. It depends not just on the total mass, but crucially on how that mass is distributed relative to the axis of rotation.
In this problem, we are exploring four different variations of a uniform rod. Let's break them down one by one.
Case A
The Standard Benchmark
We start with the most fundamental case. A rod of mass M and length L, rotating about an axis passing through its exact center.
This is our baseline. The mass is distributed symmetrically, and the maximum distance of any mass element from the axis is
L/2. The standard formula derived via integration is:
IA=12ML2
This matches perfectly with option III in our list.
Case B
Shifting the Axis
Now, let's look at Case B. The rod now has a mass of 2M, and the axis has been shifted to one end.
When the axis is at the end, the mass is distributed much further away. The maximum distance is now the full length L. The standard formula for an axis at the end is 3mass×length2.
Substituting our specific mass
2M:
IB=3(2M)L2=32ML2
This result corresponds to option IV.
Case C
Stretching the Rod
In Case C, we return the axis to the center, but we stretch the rod to a length of 2L. The mass remains M.
Because the moment of inertia depends on the
square of the length, doubling the length has a massive impact. We use our center-axis formula, but we must be careful to substitute
2L for the length:
IC=12M(2L)2
Expanding the square gives us
4L2:
IC=12M(4L2)=3ML2
Notice how a rod of length 2L rotating about its center has the exact same moment of inertia as a rod of length L (with mass M) rotating about its end! This matches option II.
Case D
The Heavyweight Champion
Finally, we have the most extreme case. The mass is doubled to 2M, the length is doubled to 2L, and the axis is at the end.
We use the end-axis formula and substitute both new values:
ID=3(2M)(2L)2
First, square the length:
(2L)2=4L2. Then multiply by the mass
2M:
ID=3(2M)(4L2)=38ML2
This is the largest moment of inertia of the group, matching option I.
The Grand Conclusion
By carefully applying the foundational formulas and substituting the specific parameters for each case, we have successfully decoded the matrix.
The final matching is A→III, B→IV, C→II, and D→I. Always remember, in rotational mechanics, the position of the axis and the square of the distance are your most critical factors!