A good way to explain polar moment of inertia is by way of the classic egg carton demonstration: take an egg carton (standard dozen size) and put 4 eggs in it, 2 at each end. This represents a front-engined vehicle. Then hold it from the bottom in the center and torque it back and forth with your hand.
Now to represent a mid-engined vehicle, take the 4 eggs and put them in the center of the carton, and repeat the test. Feel the difference? Both configurations have the same 50/50 weight distribution yet vastly different polar moments of inertia.
Now to represent a mid-engined vehicle, take the 4 eggs and put them in the center of the carton, and repeat the test. Feel the difference? Both configurations have the same 50/50 weight distribution yet vastly different polar moments of inertia.
