1. What is Flywheel Inertia?

The moment of inertia (I) of a flywheel is a measure of its resistance to changes in rotational speed. For a solid disk flywheel, it depends on the mass and the square of the radius from the axis of rotation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the flywheel inertia equation:

Where:

• \( I \) — Moment of inertia (kg·m²)
• \( m \) — Mass of the flywheel (kg)
• \( r \) — Radius of the flywheel (m)

Explanation: The equation shows that inertia increases with mass and grows exponentially with radius.

3. Importance of Flywheel Inertia

Details: Flywheel inertia is crucial in mechanical systems for energy storage, smoothing rotational speed variations, and maintaining angular momentum in rotating machinery.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and radius in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The radius is measured from the center to the edge of the flywheel.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between mass and moment of inertia?
A: Mass measures resistance to linear acceleration, while moment of inertia measures resistance to angular acceleration.

Q2: How does flywheel shape affect the calculation?
A: This equation is for solid disk flywheels. Different shapes (rings, cylinders) have different inertia equations.

Q3: Why is radius squared in the equation?
A: Mass farther from the axis contributes more to rotational inertia, hence the r² term.

Q4: What are typical inertia values for flywheels?
A: Values vary widely from small lab flywheels (0.001 kg·m²) to industrial energy storage (1000+ kg·m²).

Q5: How does inertia affect flywheel performance?
A: Higher inertia means more energy storage but slower acceleration/deceleration.