Question

An oxygen molecule consists of two oxygen atoms whose total mass is 5.3 x 10^-26 kg and whose moment of inertia about an axis perpendicular to the line joining the two atoms, midway between them, is 1.9 x 10^-46 kg*m^2. Estimate, from these data, the effective distance between the atoms.


(I am not sure what equation to use. I know that I=mr^2.)

Answer 1

Here, you have to masses at r from the rotating axis, each with moment mr^2

I=2*mass*r^2

solve for r