Rotational Inertia: Why Spinning Wheels Resist Change

What It Is – Rotational inertia is an object’s resistance to changes in its spinning motion.
Spin’s Version of Inertia – Just like straight-line inertia, it applies to rotation instead of forward motion.
Mass Matters – Heavier objects have more rotational inertia and are harder to spin or stop.
Shape Counts Too – A ring has more rotational inertia than a solid disk of the same mass and size.
Everyday Example – Bike wheels keep spinning smoothly because of their rotational inertia.
Ice Skater Spins – Skaters pull in their arms to reduce rotational inertia and spin faster.
Flywheel Power – Machines use flywheels with high rotational inertia to store energy and keep running steadily.
Sports in Action – Basketballs, soccer balls, and frisbees all rely on rotational inertia to stay stable in motion.
Cosmic Scale – Planets and stars resist changes to their spin thanks to massive rotational inertia.
The Hidden Helper – From toys to turbines, rotational inertia keeps spinning things stable and predictable.