Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Rolling, Torque, and Angular Momentum: Problem 41_M

Figure 11.23 shows a rigid structure consisting of a circular hoop of radius \(R\) and mass \(m\), and a square made of four thin bars, each of length \(R\) and mass \(m\). The rigid structure rotates at a constant speed about a vertical axis, with a period of rotation of \(2.5 \text{ s}\). Assuming \(R = 0.50 \text{ m}\) and \(m = 2.0 \text{ kg}\), calculate (a) the structure’s rotational inertia about the axis of rotation and (b) its angular momentum about that axis.