Center of Gravity and Centroid

Center of Gravity, Center of Mass, and the Centroid of a Body

In this section we will first show how to locate the center of gravity for a body, and then we will show that the
center of mass and the centroid of a body can be developed using this same method.

Center of Gravity. A body is composed of an infinite number of particles of differential size, and so if the body
is located within a gravitational field, then each of these particles will have a weight dW , Fig. 9–1 a . These
weights will form an approximately parallel force system, and the resultant of this system is the total weight of
the body, which passes through a single point called the center of gravity, G , Fig. 9–1 b .

Centroid of an Area.
If an area lies in the x–y plane and is bounded by the curve y = f (x) , as shown in Fig. 9–5 a , then its centroid
will be in this plane and can be determined from integrals similar to Eqs. 9–3 , namely,

Where:

A – area of composite figure

x, y – distances of each area from a reference axes

a – areas of each division in the composite area

Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas
Problem 714
The dimensions of the T-section of a cast-iron beam are shown in Fig. P-714. How far is the centroid of
the area above the base?

Solution:
Subdivide the composite area into two regular areas

A=A1+A2=6+8

A=14 in2

Aȳ=Σay

14ȳ=6(0.5)+8(5)

ȳ =3.07 in above the base answer

A1=6(1)=6 in2A1=6(1)=6 in2

y1=0.5 in
A2=8(1)=8 in2
y2=5 in
Problem 715

Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the area shown in Fig. P-715 with respect to the
given axes.

Solution:
Subdivide the composite area into two regular areas
Problem 718
Locate the centroid of the shaded area shown in Fig. P-718.

Solution:
Subdivide the composite area into regular areas
Problem 723
Locate the centroid of the shaded area in Fig. P-723.
Solution:

Subdivide the composite area into regular areas