\[I=mr^2\]
Variables
Imoment of inertia (kg·m²)
mmass of the limb segment (kg)
rdistance from the rotation axis to the center of mass (m)
Description
What is this formula?
This formula calculates the moment of inertia of a limb segment modeled as a point mass rotating around an axis. The moment of inertia measures resistance to angular acceleration.
When to use it
Use this formula in biomechanics, kinesiology, sports science, or rehabilitation when analyzing rotational motion of body segments.
Example
A forearm segment has:
m=2.5 kg
r=0.35 m
Formula:
I=m*r²
Substitution:
I=2.5*(0.35)²
Result:
I≈0.306 kg·m²
The limb segment has a moment of inertia of approximately 0.306 kg·m².
Applications
- Human movement analysis
- Sports biomechanics
- Prosthetic engineering
- Rehabilitation studies
- Rotational dynamics