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The moment of inertia of a uniform circular disc is maximum about an axis perpendicular to the disc and passing through

Asked in CBSE AIPMT 2012 Mains · Standard bodies and axis theorems

Figure: Standard bodies and axis theorems
Answer: (1) B

Step-by-step solution

Given: four points of a uniform disc — A at the centre, C and D inside it, and B on the rim — with the axis perpendicular to the disc in each case.

Idea: the parallel axes theorem makes the moment of inertia grow with the distance of the axis from the centre.

I=I_cm+Md²=1/2MR²+Md²

I is largest when d is largest.

Of the four points, only B lies on the rim, at the greatest distance d=R.

So I is maximum about the perpendicular axis through B, where I=3/2MR².

Why the other options are wrong

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