PROBLEM 5.

37
Determine by direct integration the centroid of the area shown. Express
your answer in terms of a and b.

SOLUTION
For the element (EL) shown on line 1 at
b
x = a, b = k2a 2 or k2 =
a2
b 2
∴ y = x
a2
−2b
On line 2 at x = a, −2b = k1a3 or k2 =
a3
−2b 3
∴ y = x
a3
 b 2b 
dA =  2 x 2 + 3 x3  dx
a a 
a
b 
a 2 x3  b  x3 2 x 4 
Then A = ∫ dA = ∫ 2  x 2 + dx = +
0
a  x  a 2  3 4a 
0

 1 1 5
= ab  +  = ab
 3 2 6
a
a  b 2 2b 3  b  x 4 2 x5  2 1 2
and ∫ xEL dA = ∫ x
0  2
x + 3
x  dx = 2
 +  = a b  + 
a a  a  4 5a  4 5
0
13 2
= ab
20
a1 b 2 2b 3   b 2 2b 3  
∫ yEL dA = ∫0 2  a 2 x − a3 x   a 2 x + a3 x  dx 
    
a
1  b
2 2
a   2b  b 2  x5 2 
= ∫  2 x 2  −  3 x 3 
0
 dx = 
4
− 2 x7 
2  a  a   2a  5 7a 0
 1 2 13
= b 2a5  −  = − ab 2
 10 7  70
 5  13 2 39
Then xA = ∫ xEL dA: x  ab  = ab or x = a
 6  20 50
 5  13 2 39
yA = ∫ yEL dA: y  ab  − ab or y = − b
 6  70 175
 PROBLEM 5.38
Determine by direct integration the centroid of the area shown. Express
your answer in terms of a and b.

SOLUTION
At x = 0, y = b

b
b = k (0 − a)
2
or k =
a2
b
Then y = ( x − a )2
a2
y b
2(
x − a)
2
Now xEL = x, yEL = =
2 2a
b
and dA = ydx = ( x − a )2 dx
a2
b b a 1
2(
x − a ) dx = 2 ( x − a )  = ab
a 2 3
Then A = ∫ dA = ∫0
a 3a  0 3

∫ xEL dA = ∫0 x  a 2 ( x − a ) dx  = a 2 ∫0 ( x − 2ax + a x )dx

a  b 2  a 3b 2 2
and
 
b  x4 2 3 a2 2  1 2
= 2
 − ax + x  = ab
a  4 3 2  12
a
b 2 b   b2 1 5
∫ yEL dA = ∫0 2a 2 ( x − a )  a 2 ( x − a ) dx  = 2a 4  5 ( x − a ) 
a 2

   0
1 2
= ab
10
1  1 2 1
Hence xA = ∫ xEL dA: x  ab  = ab x = a
 3  12 4

1  1 2 3
yA = ∫ yEL dA: y  ab  = ab y = b
 3  10 10
 PROBLEM 5.39
Determine by direct integration the centroid of the area shown.

SOLUTION
Have xEL = x
1 a x x2 
yEL = y = 1 − + 2 
2 2 L L 
 x x2 
dA = ydx = a 1 − + 2  dx
 L L 
2L
2L  x x2   x2 x3  8
Then A = ∫ dA = ∫ 0
a 1− + 2  dx = a  x − + 2  = aL
 L L   2 L 3L 0 3

2L
2L   x x2    x2 x3 x4 
and ∫ xEL dA = ∫0 x  a 1 − L + L2  dx  = a  2 − 3L + 4L2 
     0
10 2
= aL
3
2L a x x2    x x2  
∫ yEL dA = ∫0 
2 
1 − +   a
L L2   
1 − +  dx 
L L2  

a 2 EL  x x2 x3 x 4 
= ∫  1 − 2 + 3 − 2 +  dx
2 0  L L2 L3 L4 
2L
a2  x 2 x3 x4 x5  11
= x − + 2 − 3 + 4  = a2L
2  L L 2L 5L  0 5

 8  10 2 5
Hence xA = ∫ xEL dA: x  aL  = aL x = L
3  3 4

 1  11 33
yA = ∫ yEL dA: y  a  = a 2 y = a
8  5 40
 PROBLEM 5.40
Determine by direct integration the centroid of the area shown. Express
your answer in terms of a and b.

SOLUTION
2b
For y1 at x = a, y = 2b 2b = ka 2 or k =
a2
2b 2
Then y1 = x
a2

( x + 2b) = b  2 − 

b x
By observation y2 = −
a a

Now xEL = x
and for 0 ≤ x ≤ a :
1 b 2b 2
yEL = y1 = 2 x 2 and dA = y1dx = x dx
2 a a2
For a ≤ x ≤ 2a :

1 b x  x
yEL = y2 =  2 −  and dA = y2dx = b  2 −  dx
2 2 a  a

a 2b 2 2a  x
Then A = ∫ dA = ∫0 2
x dx + ∫a b  2 − dx
a  a
a 2a
2b  x3   a x 
2
7
= 2   + b  −  2 −   = ab
a  3 0  2  a   6
0

a  2b 2  2a   x 
and ∫ xEL dA = ∫0 x  a 2 x dx  + ∫a x b  2 − a  dx 
     
a 2a
2b  x 4   2 x3 
=   + b x − 
a2  4 0  3a  0

=
1 2
2 {
a b + b ( 2a ) − ( a )  +
2 2 1  2
 3a  ( )
3 
2a − ( a )  

7 2
= ab
6
PROBLEM 5.40 CONTINUED

a b 2  2b 2  2a b  x  x 
∫ yEL dA = ∫0 a 2 x  a 2 x dx  + ∫0 2  2 − a  b  2 − a  dx 
      
a 2a
b2  a  x 
3
2b 2  x5 
= 4   +  −  2 −  
a  5 0 2  3  a  
a
17 2
= ab
30

7  7
Hence xA = ∫ xEL dA: x  ab  = a 2b x =a
6  6

 7  17 2 17
yA = ∫ yEL dA: y  ab  = ab y = b
 6  30 35
 PROBLEM 5.41
Determine by direct integration the centroid of the area shown. Express
your answer in terms of a and b.

SOLUTION
a
For y2 at x = a, y = b : a = kb 2 or k =
b2
b 1/2
Then y2 = x
a
Now xEL = x
a y b x1/2 x1/2
and for 0≤ x≤ : yEL = 2 = , dA = y2dx = b dx
2 2 2 a a

a 1 b  x 1 x1/2 
For ≤ x ≤ a : yEL = ( y1 + y2 ) =  − + 
2 2 2a 2 a 

 x1/2 x 1 
dA = ( y2 − y1 ) dx = b  − +  dx
 a a 2

a/2 x1/2 a  x1/2 x 1 

Then A = ∫ dA = ∫0 b dx + ∫a/2 b  − +  dx
a  a a 2
a/2 a
b  2 3/2   2 x3/2 x2 1 
= 3 x  + b  − + x
a  0 3 a 2a 2  a/2

2 b  a  a 
3/2 3/2
  + ( a ) −   
3/2
=
3 a  2   2  

 1  
a  1
2
 a  
2a 
( )
+ b  −  a −    + ( a ) −    
2
 2   2   2  
 
13
= ab
24
PROBLEM 5.41 CONTINUED

a/2  x
1/2  a   x1/2 x 1  
and ∫ EL
x dA = ∫0 x  b dx  + ∫ b 
x − +  dx
 a  a/2   a a 2  
a/2 a
b  2 5/2   2 x5/2 x3 x 4 
= x + b  − + 
a  5 
0  5 a 3a 4  a/2

2 b  a  a 
5/2 5/2
  + ( a ) −   
5/2
=
5 a  2   2  

 1  3  a 3  1  2  a 2  
+ b  − ( a ) −    +  ( a ) −    
 3a   2   4   2   

71 2
= ab
240
a/2 b x1/2  x1/2 
∫ yEL dA = ∫0 2 b dx 
a a 

a b x 1 x1/2    x1/2 x 1  
+ ∫a/2  − +  b  − +  dx 
2 a 2 a    a a 2  
a
b 2  x 2 1  x 1  
a/2 3
b2  1 2 
= x +   −  −  
2a  2  0 2  2a 3a  a 2   
  a/2

b  a 
2 2 3
a b2  a 1 
  + ( a ) −  
2
= −  − 
4  2 
a 2  6a  2 2 
11 2
= ab
48
 13  71 2 17
Hence xA = ∫ xEL dA: x  ab  = ab x = a = 0.546a
 24  240 130

 13  11 2 11
yA = ∫ yEL dA: y  ab  = ab y = b = 0.423b
 24  48 26
 PROBLEM 5.42
A homogeneous wire is bent into the shape shown. Determine by direct
integration the x coordinate of its centroid. Express your answer in terms
of a.

SOLUTION
First note that because the wire is homogeneous, its center of gravity
coincides with the centroid of the corresponding line
1
Have at x = a, y = a : a = ka 2 or k =
a
1 2 2
Thus y = x and dy = xdx
a a
2 2
 dy  2 
Then dL = 1 +   dx = 1 +  x  dx
 dx  a 
a
4 x 4x2 a 2 4x2 
a
∴ L = ∫ dL = ∫ 1 + 2 x 2 dx =  1 + 2 + ln  x + 1 + 2 
0
a 2 a 4 a a 
  0

=
a
2
a
(
5 + ln 2 + 5 = 1.4789a
4
)
a
a
 4x2   2  a2   4  
3/2

∫ xELdL = ∫ x
0 
1 + 2 dx  =    1 + 2 x 2  
a   3  8  a  
   0

a 2 3/2
=
12
( )
5 − 1 = 0.8484a 2

Then xL = ∫ xEL dL: x (1.4789a ) = 0.8484a 2 x = 0.574a

 PROBLEM 5.43
A homogeneous wire is bent into the shape shown. Determine by direct
integration the x coordinate of its centroid.

SOLUTION
First note that because the wire is homogeneous, its center of gravity
coincides with the centroid of the corresponding line

Now xEL = r cos θ and dL = rd θ

7π /4 7π /4 3
Then L = ∫ dL = ∫π /4 rdθ = r [θ ]π /4 = πr
2
7π /4
and ∫ xELdL = ∫π /4 r cosθ ( rdθ )

7π /4  1 1 
= r 2 [sin θ ]π /4 = r 2  − − 2
 = −r 2
 2 2

3  2 2
Thus xL = ∫ xdL : x  π r  = −r 2 2 x =− r
2  3π
 PROBLEM 5.44
A homogeneous wire is bent into the shape shown. Determine by direct
integration the x coordinate of its centroid.

SOLUTION
First note that because the wire is homogeneous, its center of gravity
coincides with the centroid of the corresponding line

Now xEL = a cos3 θ and dL = dx 2 + dy 2

Where x = a cos3 θ : dx = −3a cos 2 θ sin θ dθ

y = a sin 3 θ : dy = 3a sin 2 θ cosθ dθ

1/2

( ) + (3a sin θ cosθ dθ ) 
2 2
Then dL =  −3a cos 2 θ sin θ dθ 2


( )
1/2
= 3a cosθ sin θ cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ dθ
= 3a cosθ sin θ dθ
π /2
π /2 1 
∴ L = ∫ dL = ∫0 3a cosθ sin θ dθ = 3a  sin 2 θ 
 2 0
3
= a
2
π /2
∫ xEL dL = ∫0 a cos θ ( 3a cosθ sin θ dθ )
3
and
π /2
 1  3 2
= 3a 2  − cos5 θ  = a
 5 0 5

3  3 2
Hence xL = ∫ xEL dL : x  a  = a 2 x = a
2  5 5
PROBLEM 5.44 CONTINUED

Alternative solution
2/3
 x
x = a cos3 θ ⇒ cos 2 θ =  
 a
2/3
 y
y = a sin θ ⇒ sin θ =  
3 2
 a
2/3 2/3
 x  y
( )
3/2
∴   +  =1 or y = a 2/3 − x 2/3
 a  a
dy
( ) (−x )
1/2 −1/3
Then = a 2/3 − x 2/3
dx
Now xEL = x
1/2
2  2
 dy  
( ) (−x )  
1/2
−1/3
and dL = 1 +   dx = 1 +  a 2/3 − x 2/3   dx
 dx    
a
a a1/3 3  3
Then L = ∫ dL = ∫0 1/ 3
dx = a1/3  x 2/3  = a
x  2 0 2
a
a a 
1/3
1/3  3 5/3  3
and ∫ xELdL = ∫ 0
x  1/3
dx = a  x  = a 2
x  5 0 5

3  3 2
Hence xL = ∫ xEL dL : x  a  = a 2 x = a
2  5 5