======Disc vs Ring Moment of Inertia======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Rolling Disc vs Ring
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place a clean inclined plane at an angle greater than 10 degrees.
  - Mark a start and finish line if you want to measure the race distance.
  - Position the disc and the ring side by side at the starting line.
  - Release both objects simultaneously and allow them to roll freely.
  - Observe which object reaches the bottom first.



====Links==== 
Rotational Inertia: The Race Between a Ring and a Disc - North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: 
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Moment of Inertia Race - Disc vs Ring - SMUPhysics: 
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📄 Disc vs Ring - Moment of Inertia - Classroom Physics Demos: [[https://demos.smu.ca/demos/mechanics/119-moment-of-inertia-race]]\\


====Variations====
  * Try using objects of different sizes but similar shapes to compare results.
  * Use a stopwatch to time the roll of each object and compare quantitative results.
  * Increase the incline angle to see how it affects the speed difference.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Ensure the inclined plane is stable to prevent it from tipping over.
  * Keep hands and other objects clear of the rolling path.
  * Use caution with heavy discs or rings to avoid injury if they fall.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does the disc reach the bottom faster than the ring? (Because the disc has a smaller moment of inertia, so it accelerates more easily.)
  * How would the results change if the masses were different? (The relative speed difference is due to mass distribution, not total mass, so results would be similar.)
  * What role does conservation of energy play in this demonstration? (Potential energy converts into both translational and rotational kinetic energy, and the distribution determines speed.)