Question

The flying wheel attached to the shaft of steam engine works on the principle of ___________

(a) Centripetal action

(b) Moment of inertia

(c) Newton’s third law of motion

(d) Conservation of momentum

The question was asked during an interview.

This intriguing question comes from Centripetal Force in chapter Kinematics of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) Moment of inertia

For explanation: A flywheel is attached to the shaft of an engine. Because of its large moment of inertia, the flywheel opposes the sudden increase or decrease in the speed of the vehicle. It allows a gradual change in the speed and prevents jerky motions and hence ensures a smooth ride for the passengers.