If the body€™s center of mass were not placed on the rotational axis of the turntable, how would the person€™s measured moment of inertia compare to the moment of inertia for rotation about the center of mass?

(a) The measured moment of inertia would be too large;

(b) The measured moment of inertia would be too small;

(c) The two moments of inertia would be the same;

(d) It depends on where the body€™s center of mass is placed relative to the center of the turntable.

The moment of inertia of the human body about an axis through its center of mass is important in the application of biomechanics to sports such as diving and gymnastics. We can measure the body€™s moment of inertia in a particular position while a person remains in that position on a horizontal turntable, with the body€™s center of mass on the turntable€™s rotational axis. The turntable with the person on it is then accelerated from rest by a torque that is produced by using a rope wound around a pulley on the shaft of the turntable. From the measured tension in the rope and the angular acceleration, we can calculate the body€™s moment of inertia about an axis through its center of mass.

Transcribed Image Text:

Overhead view of a female gymnast lying in somersault position atop a turntable