2.2.

3 Center of Mass of Lamina

If 𝜌 is a continuous density function of the lamina corresponding to a plane region

R, then the mass m of the lamina is given by:

Mass, 𝑀 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴

Example:
1. Find the mass of the triangular lamina with vertices as shown, given that the
density at (x,y) is 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥 + 𝑦.

3𝑥
Boundaries are x=0, y=3 and 𝑦 = .
2
Mass of lamina, 𝑀 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴
3 2𝑦
= ∫ ∫0 3 (2𝑥 + 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥 . 𝑑𝑦
0
3
2𝑦
3
= ∫ [𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦] 𝑑𝑦
0
0
10 3
=
9
∫0 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
3
10 𝑦 3
= [ ] = 10
9 3
0
2. Find the mass of the lamina corresponding to the first quadrant of a circle
x2+ y2 = 4, where the density at the point (x,y) is proportional to the distance
between the point and the origin.

Given x2 + y2 = 4 and 𝜌  distance (x,y) to (0,0)

→ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘√(𝑥 − 0)2 + (𝑦 − 0)2
→ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
Boundaries are 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2 and 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ √4 − 𝑥 2 ,

Mass of lamina, 𝑀 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴

2
√4−𝑥2
=∫ ∫ 𝑘√𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0
0
𝜋
Convert to polar coordinates, boundaries are 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ and 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 2.
2
𝜋
2 2
Mass of lamina, 𝑀 = ∫ ∫ 𝑘√𝑟2 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
0
0
 𝜋
2
= ∫ ∫0 𝑘𝑟2 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
2
0
𝜋
2 2
𝑘𝑟 3
=∫ [ ] . 𝑑𝜃
3
0 0
𝜋
8𝑘 2
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃
3 0
𝜋
8𝑘 2 4𝜋𝑘
= [𝜃] =
3 3
0

Moments and Center of Mass of Lamina

Let 𝜌 be a continuous density function of the planar lamina R and m is the mass
of lamina.

The moments of mass with respect to the x axis is 𝑀𝑥 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑦 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴

The moments of mass with respect to the y axis is 𝑀𝑦 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝑥 𝑦 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴
𝑀𝑦 𝑀𝑥
The coordinate of the center of mass is (𝑥̅ , 𝑦
̅) = ( , )
𝑚 𝑚

Example:

Find the center of mass of the lamina corresponding to the parabolic region 0 ≤
𝑦 ≤ 4 − 𝑥 2 where the density at the point (x,y) is proportional to the distance
between (x,y) and the x axis as shown in the diagram.

𝜌  distance (x,y) to (x,0)

→ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘√(𝑥 − 𝑥)2 + (𝑦 − 0)2
→ 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘𝑦
As the graph is between 𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 0,
boundaries are −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2 and 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 4 − 𝑥 2
Mass of lamina, 𝑀 = ∫𝑅 ∫ 𝜌 (𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑑𝐴
2
4−𝑥2
= ∫ ∫0 𝑘𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
−2
2
4 − 𝑥2
𝑘
= ∫ [𝑦 2 ] . 𝑑𝑥
2
−2 0
𝑘 2
= ∫ (16 − 8𝑥 2 + 𝑥 4 ) 𝑑𝑥
2 −2
 2
𝑘 8𝑥 3 𝑥5 256𝑘
= [16𝑥 − + ] =
2 3 5 15
−2
2
4−𝑥2
The moment about the x-axis = ∫ ∫0 (𝑦)(𝑘𝑦) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
−2
2 2
𝑘 4−𝑥
3
= ∫ [𝑦 ] 𝑑𝑥
3
−2 0
𝑘 2
= ∫−2 (64 − 48𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 4 − 𝑥 6 ) 𝑑𝑥
3
2
𝑘 8𝑥 3 𝑥5 4096𝑘
= [16𝑥 − + ] =
2 3 5 105
−2
𝑀𝑥 4096𝑘⁄ 16 16
So 𝑦
̅= = 256𝑘⁄
105
= and the center of mass is (0, ).
𝑚 15 7 7

Example
1. Find the mass and center of mass of the lamina bounded by the graphs of
equations for the given density.
a) 𝑦 = √𝑥, 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = 1, 𝜌 = 𝑘𝑦
4
b) 𝑦 = , 𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 4, 𝜌 = 𝑘𝑥 2
𝑥

2. A lamina bounded by 𝑥 = √9 − 𝑦2 and , 𝑥 = 0 is shown. Find the center of the

lamina if density is given by 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘 , where 𝑘 is a constant and mass of
9𝑘𝜋
lamina is 2 .
3. Find the y-coordinate of the center of mass of the lamina if the mass of the
13
lamina is and density 𝜌(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 + 𝑦. (diagram is given)
20
4. Find the x-coordinate for the center of mass of a lamina with uniform density
𝜌, that is bounded by the curve 𝑥 = 4 − 𝑦 2 and the line 𝑥 = 0.
5. The mass and density of a uniform semi-circular are both 1 unit. Show that
the y-coordinate of the center of the mass of a semi-circular disc with radius
2𝑎3
a is .
3

EX. 14.4: NO. 1-8, 11-22.