The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to rotational motion about a specific axis. For a rod of mass M and length L, when the axis is located at one edge and perpendicular to its length, the formula to calculate the moment of inertia is:
Formula for Moment of Inertia
The moment of inertia (I) for this configuration is given by:
I = (1/3) M L²
Correct Answer
Thus, the correct choice from the options provided is:
Understanding the Concept
This means that the rod has a greater moment of inertia when the axis is at one end compared to when it is at the center. This is because more mass is distributed further from the axis of rotation, increasing resistance to changes in motion.