Theorem of prependicular axes

Theorem of prependicular axes

For any plane body (e.g. a rectangular sheet of metal) the moment of inertia about any axis perpendicular to the plane is equal to the sum of the moments of inertia about any two perpendicular axes in the plane of the body which intersect the first axis in the plane.

            

This theorem is most useful when considering a body which is of regular form (symmetrical) about two out of the three axes. If the moment of inertia about these axes is known then that about the third axis may be calculated.