A potter's wheel has the shape of a solid uniform disk of mass 7 kg and radius 0.65 m. It spins about an axis perpendicular to the disk at its center. A small 2.1 kg lump of very dense clay is dropped onto the wheel at a distance 0.41 m from the axis.

What is the moment of inertia of the system about the axis of spin?

1.832 kgm^2

Explanation:

mass of potter's wheel, M = 7 kg

radius of wheel, R = 0.65 m

mass of clay, m = 2.1 kg

distance of clay from centre, r = 0.41 m

Moment of inertia = Moment of inertia of disc + moment f inertia of the clay

I = 1/2 MR^2 + mr^2

I = 0.5 x 7 x 0.65 x 0.65 + 2.1 x 0.41 x 0.41

I = 1.47875 + 0.353

I = 1.832 kgm^2

Thus, the moment of inertia is 1.832 kgm^2.