Question:hard

The moment of inertia of a triangular section of base (b) and height (h) about an axis passing through its vertex and parallel to the base is ____________ times as that passing through its centre of gravity and parallel to the base.

Show Hint

First find the moment of inertia about the base, then shift it again to the vertex using the parallel axis theorem, being careful about which distance you use each time.
  • Twelve
  • Nine
  • Six
  • Four
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

A cleaner route is to first find the moment of inertia about the base of the triangle, since that value is well known, and then shift again to the vertex.

About the base, parallel to it, the standard result is \(I_{base} = \dfrac{bh^3}{12}\). This can also be checked using the parallel axis theorem from the centroid, \(I_{base} = \dfrac{bh^3}{36} + \dfrac{1}{2}bh\left(\dfrac{h}{3}\right)^2 = \dfrac{bh^3}{36} + \dfrac{bh^3}{18} = \dfrac{3bh^3}{36} = \dfrac{bh^3}{12}\), which matches.

Now the vertex is at height h, so its distance from the centroid is \(\dfrac{2h}{3}\), while the base's distance from the centroid is \(\dfrac{h}{3}\). Using the parallel axis theorem directly from the centroid for the vertex axis, \(I_{vertex} = \dfrac{bh^3}{36} + \dfrac{1}{2}bh\left(\dfrac{2h}{3}\right)^2 = \dfrac{bh^3}{36} + \dfrac{2bh^3}{9} = \dfrac{bh^3}{4}\).

Taking the ratio, \(\dfrac{I_{vertex}}{I_{cg}} = \dfrac{bh^3/4}{bh^3/36} = 9\).

\[\boxed{9\ \text{times}}\]
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