Engineering Mechanics

Lecture 16

Center of Gravity & Centroid

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics

Center of Gravity & Centroid

Center

of gravity

The center of gravity is a point which locates

the resultant weight of a system of particles or
body.
Determining the

center of gravity

Applying the principle of moments to the

parallel system of gravitational force
xdw

x=

ydw

y=

zdw

z=

xdm

x=

ydm

y=

zdm

z=

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics

Center of Gravity & Centroid

Centroid

The centroid C is a point which defines the geometric

center of an object when the density r of a body is
uniform throughout.
Centroid

of a line

For a slender rod or wire of length L, cross-sectional

area A, & density r, the mass of an element becomes
dm = r AdL

If r & A are constant over the entire length of

the rod, then;
xdL

x=
L

Lecture 16

ydL

y=
L

zdL

z=
L

Engineering Mechanics

Center of Gravity & Centroid

Centroid

of area

When a body of density r has a small but constant

thickness t, the mass of an element becomes
dm = r AdL

If r & t are constant over the entire area,

then the centroid C of the surface area
may be written
xdA

x=

ydA

y=

Centroid

zdA

z=
A

of volume

For a general body of volume V & density r, the

element has a mass dm = r AdL
If r is constant over the entire volume, then
the centroid C of the volume may be written
xdV

x=
V

Lecture 16

ydV

y=
V

zdV

z=
V

Engineering Mechanics

Example 1
Locate

the centroid of a circular arc as shown

Choosing the axis of symmetry

The centroid of the arc line can be located by
x=

xdL

y=

ydL = 0.
L

x at any point on the arc can be found from;

x = r cos q
dL = r dq
L = 2a r
a

( r cosq )( rd q )

x=
=
-a

2a r

r2
2a r

-a

cos qd q

r
2r sin a
[sin a - sin(-a )] =
2a
2a
r sin a
\x =
a
x=

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics

Example 2
Determine

the distance y from the base of a triangle of altitude h

to the centroid of its area
The area of the strip dA = x.dy
x
b
b
= x = (h - y )
h-y h
h
\dA =

b
(h - y )dy
h

Triangle area
A=

bh
2

Applying the centroid of area equation

y=

Lecture 16

ydA
A

b
(h - y )dy
h
bh
2
Engineering Mechanics

1 2
bh
h
y=6
=
bh
3
2

Example 3
Locate

the centroid of the area of a circular sector

with respect to its vertex
Technique I
The area of the strip
dA = 2a ro .dro

Centroid of the strip from example 1

xC =

ro sin a
a

Total area A
A=

2a
(p r 2 ) = a r 2
2p

Applying the centroid of area equation

ro sin a

( 2a r .dro )

xdA
0
a
=

x=
A
ar 2
r

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics

Example 3
2sin a r 3 2 r sin a
x=
=
2
a 3r
3 a

Technique II
The area of the strip
dA =

dq
1
(p r 2 ) = r 2d q
2p
2

Centroid of the strip

2
x C = r cosq
3

Total area A
A=

2a
(p r 2 ) = a r 2
2p

Applying the centroid of area equation

2
1 2

r
cos
q
r
.
d
q

xdA -a 3
2

x=
=
A
ar 2
1 r3
x=
sin a - sin(-a ) ]
2[
3 ar
a

Lecture 16

x=

Engineering Mechanics

2 r sin a
3 a

Example 3
For a semicircular area 2a = p
x=

Lecture 16

2 r sin p / 2 4r
=
3 p /2
3p

Engineering Mechanics

Example 4
Locate

the centroid of the area shown

The x
The area of the strip
dA = y .dx = x 2dx

Centroid of the strip

xC = x

Total area A
1
3

A = x 2dx =
0

Applying the centroid of area equation

x=

x=

Lecture 16

xdA
A

x 3dx

1/ 3

x (x 2dx )
1/ 3

3
= m
4
Engineering Mechanics

Example 4
The y
The area of the strip
dA = (1 - x ).dy

Centroid of the strip

yC = y

Total area A
1

A = x 2dx =
0

1
3

Applying the centroid of area equation

y=

y=

Lecture 16

ydA
A

y ( (1 - x )dy )

=
0

1/ 3

y - y 3/2dy
1/ 3

3
m
10

Engineering Mechanics

Example 5
Locate

the centroid of the area shown

The area of the strip

dV = p z 2 .dy

Centroid of the strip

yC = y

Total area A
100

A = p z .dy = 100p
0

100

y .dy

A = 500000p

Applying the centroid of Volume equation

y=

ydV
V

100

y (p 100 y .dy )
500000p

100

y 2dy

5000

y = 66.67 mm

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics

Discussions
Any Question?

Lecture 16

Engineering Mechanics