A2FM Mechanics - Chapter 5

“Centres of mass 1”
Student Handout

Student name:

Teacher:

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 Chapter 5 Centres of mass 1
Learning objectives
In this chapter you will learn how to:
› Find the centre of mass of arrangements of particles, uniform rods and symmetrical
uniform laminas.
› Find the centre of mass of two- and three-dimensional objects of standard shape.
› Find the centre of mass of composite bodies, including bent wires.

Introduction
In our earlier work on moments, we considered that the weight of a rigid body acts at its
centre.
This is called the “____________________” (sometimes ____________________).
If the rigid body was not uniform, the centre of mass would be in a different position.

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SECTION 1 – CENTRE OF MASS OF A SYSTEM OF POINT MASSES.

Centre of mass in one dimension.

The centre of mass, x , can be found using either…

Moment of the whole mass ¿ Sum of moments of the

at centre of mass individual masses

( m1 +m2+ m3 + … ) x ¿ m1 x 1 +m2 x 2 +m3 x 3 +…

Or…

Example:
A light rod lies along the x -axis and particles of mass 1kg, 2kg and 5kg lie at the points (2,0),
(4,0) and (7,0) respectively.
Find the coordinates of the centre of mass.
Answer:

Your turn:
Particles of masses 2kg, 3kg and 5kg, are fixed to a light rod.
From the left-hand side (LHS), the masses are positioned at 0.2m, 0.3m and 0.5m
respectively. Find the centre of mass of the rod.
Answer:

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Centre of mass in two dimensions
When working in two dimensions, there are two possible approaches…
› Consider the 𝒙 and 𝒚 coordinates separately.
› Use vectors…

() ( ) ( )
x x
M x =m1 1 + m2 2 +…
y y1 y2
Example
Find the coordinates of the centre of mass of four particles of mass 5kg, 2kg, 2kg and 3kg
situated at (3,1), (4,3), (5,2) and (-3,1) respectively.
Answer:

Read through the worked examples.

Then do Exercise 5A (page 107)
Odd numbered questions.
Complete remaining questions for prep.
Self mark all your work in purple pen.

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SECTION 2 – CENTRES OF MASS OF STANDARD SHAPES.

Centre of mass of a uniform rod.

A uniform rod is an inflexible body with its mass spread evenly along a straight line.
Its cross-sectional area is zero.
The centre of mass of a uniform rod lies at its midpoint.

Centre of mass of a lamina.

A lamina is a very thin layer (a sheet) of material.
The thickness is negligible.
When considering the centre of mass of a lamina, it is possible to work with areas instead of
mass.
The centre of mass lies on (at intersection of) lines of symmetry.

Example:
Find the coordinates of the centre of mass of a uniform rectangular lamina with vertices at
A (−1 ,−1 ) , B (−2,1 ) , C(2,3)∧D (3,1).
Solution:
You could use the ‘________________________’
method…

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The centre of mass of a uniform triangle is at the
point of intersection of its __________: that is,
the lines joining its vertices to the midpoints of
the opposite sides.
This position is known as the _______________
of the triangle.
Moreover, the centre of mass lies ____________
of the way along each median from the vertex.

You could use the ‘averaged coordinates’ method here too.

Your turn:
Find the coordinates of the centre of mass of a uniform triangular lamina with vertices at
A(4,4), B(1,1)∧C (5,1).
Solution:

Example:
Find the coordinates of the centre of mass, G , of the uniform
triangular lamina with vertices at A( 0,0) , B (6,0)∧C (0,18).
Solution:

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The centre of mass of a sector of a circular disc, with radius r and angle subtended at the
centre, 2 α (in radians) is given by…

Your turn:
Find the centre of mass, G, of a uniform circular sector with
π
radius 10cm and angle at centre .
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Solution:

The centre of mass of a uniform wire bent to form an arc of a circular disc, with radius r and
angle subtended at the centre, 2 α (in radians) is given by…

Your turn:
Find the distance of the centre of mass from O of a
uniform wire bent to form an arc with radius 10cm and
π
angle at centre .
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Solution:

Read through the worked examples.

Then do Exercise 5B (page 114)
Odd numbered questions.

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 Complete remaining questions for prep.
Self mark all your work in purple pen.
SECTION 3 – CENTRES OF MASS OF COMPOSITE BODIES.

A composite body is a shape made up of two, or more, regular shapes.

In order to find the centre of mass of composite bodies…
› Break the shape down into its component regular shapes.
› Find the centre of mass of each of these shapes.
For the centre of mass of a composite body, use an adjusted version of a previous formula…

Example:
A hammer has a uniform shaft 0.4m long and a
mass of 125g.
The shaft passes through the head of mass 1kg
whose centre of mass is 0.05m from the end of
the shaft.
Find the position of the centre of mass of the whole hammer.
Answer:

Your turn:
A disc of mass 6kg and radius 1m is attached to
the end of a rod of mass 2kg and length 2m.
Find the position of the centre of mass of the
combined disc and rod from the base of the rod.
Answer:

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Example
Particles of masses 2kg, 4kg, 6kg and 8kg are fixed to corners
of a light rectangular frame, with sides of length 2m and 4m,
as shown.
Find the position of the centre of mass with respect to ‘O’.

Answer

Your turn:
Particles of masses 2kg, 2kg and 6kg are fixed to corners of a light
triangular frame, with sides of length 2m and 8m, as shown.
Find the position of the centre of mass with respect to ‘O’.
Answer:

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Example:
A uniform rectangular lamina has a rectangular hole.
Find the centre of mass.

Answer:

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Your turn:
The diagram shows a uniform square lamina
with a hole cut out. Find the centre of mass.
Answer:

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Example:
A letter P is formed by bending a uniform steel rod into
the shape shown, in which BCDE is a rectangle.
Find the centre of mass from sides AC and CD
Answer:

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Centres of mass of standard 3-D objects.
You need to be able to use formulae for both solids and shells of hemispheres, cones,
pyramids…

Key point:
For solid 3D shapes, use volumes.
For shells of 3D shapes, use surface areas.

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Example:
A solid uniform frustum has been made from a solid
cone base radius 15cm and height 50cm.
A cone of height 30cm has been removed from the
vertex as shown.
Calculate the distance of the centre of mass of the
frustum from the base.
Solution:

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EXAM-STYLE QUESTION

Read through the worked examples.

Then do Exercise 5C (page 123)
Odd numbered questions.
Complete remaining questions for prep.
Self mark all your work in purple pen.

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 KS5 File Review Form
Lesson objectives and learning outcomes
By now, you should be able to…
1. Find the centre of mass of arrangements of particles, uniform
rods and symmetrical uniform laminas.
2. Find the centre of mass of two- and three-dimensional objects of
standard shape.
3. Find the centre of mass of composite bodies, including bent
wires.

Now that we have completed this chapter…

 Tick an appropriate box above to show me how you think you have managed this work
(highlight, in the space below, two areas you would most like, or need, help or feedback with).

1.

2.

 Make sure all your class notes are complete.

 Make sure all the exercises are attempted but that the Mixed Practice is fully completed.
 Make sure that all work is self-marked in purple. Highlight any questions you are struggling
with.
(If there are many, you will need to attend maths clinics to get help. These are every lunchtime in
Murray, Wimbledon, 13:05 – 13:40 and immediately after school. Also in Borg from 17:25 –
18:25).
 Give me your complete file for this chapter so that I can sign these off and provide any further
help.
 You will need to add your Progress Test, once returned, to these notes to complete your file.
 Keep this file, with your other work, in your folder.

Signed-off (by your teacher)

Signature: Date:

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