Rotational inertia

Definition

Rotational inertia (also known as moment of inertia) is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in rotational motion. It depends on both the mass distribution within an object and how it is rotating about an axis.

Related terms

Torque:

The measure of how effectively a force can cause an object to rotate. It depends on both the magnitude of the force and its distance from the axis of rotation.

Angular Momentum: The quantity that describes an object's tendency to keep rotating at a constant rate. It depends on both rotational inertia and angular velocity.

Center of Mass:

The point within an object where its entire mass can be considered concentrated for purposes of calculating motion.