ENGINEERING MECHANICS:

CENTROIDS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY

CVE 201 / ME 202: STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

This material is for use and distribution only within the

CVE 201 / ME 202: STATICS OF RIGID BODIES
CENTROIDS
THE CENTROID IS THE AVERAGE
POSITION OF ALL THE POINTS OF
AN OBJECT.
CENTER OF GRAVITY

CENTER OF GRAVITY IS THE POINT

THROUGH WHICH THE RESULTANT
OF ALL THE PARTICLES OF THE
BODY ACTS.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
WHEN THE LINE OF ACTION OF THE REACTIVE FORCE (SUPPORT REACTION)
INTERSECTS THE CENTER OF GRAVITY, THE BODY IS STABLE.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
A
B C
A force that goes through the center of gravity won't
cause any rotation. In fact you can balance an object
by supporting it directly below its center of gravity.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
CENTROID OF LINES
𝑦
𝑥

THE CENTROID IS THE AVERAGE 𝑑𝐿

POSITION OF ALL THE POINTS OF

AN OBJECT. 𝑦= 𝑦
𝑦
𝑥𝑑𝐿 𝑦𝑑𝐿
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑥
𝐿 𝐿
𝑥=𝑥
CENTROID OF LINES
𝑦

THE CENTROID IS THE AVERAGE

POSITION OF ALL THE POINTS OF
AN OBJECT.
𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑦
𝑥𝑑𝐴 𝑦𝑑𝐴 2
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑑𝑥 𝑥
𝐴 𝐴
𝑥

𝑥
CENTROID OF LINES
𝑦

THE CENTROID IS THE AVERAGE 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑥𝑑𝑦

POSITION OF ALL THE POINTS OF 𝑑𝑦

AN OBJECT. 𝑦
𝑦

𝑦
𝑥𝑑𝐴 𝑦𝑑𝐴
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑥
𝐴 𝐴 𝑥
𝑥=
2
𝑥
CENTROID OF LINES
𝑧

THE CENTROID IS THE AVERAGE

POSITION OF ALL THE POINTS OF
AN OBJECT. 𝑑𝑉

𝑥𝑑𝑉 𝑦𝑑𝑉 𝑧
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑥
𝑉 𝑦
𝑉
𝑧𝑑𝑉 𝑥
𝑧= 𝑦
𝑉 𝑦 𝑧
𝑥= 𝑥 𝑦= 𝑧=
2 2
PROBLEM 1
LOCATE THE
CENTROID OF THE
ROD BENT INTO THE
SHAPE OF A
PARABOLIC ARC AS
SHOWN.
CONSIDERING THE EQUATION OF THE LINE:
𝑥 = 𝑦2
𝑑𝐿
𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑦𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 2𝑦
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
CONSIDERING THE DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT dL:

𝑑𝐿 = 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 2

𝑑𝑦 2
𝑑𝐿 = 𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 2 ×
𝑑𝑦 2

2
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝐿 = + 1 × 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝐿 = 2𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝐿 = 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
CONSIDERING THE DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT dL:
𝑑𝐿 = 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝐿
𝑑𝑦
FOR THE X-BAR:

𝑥𝑑𝐿 𝑥𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑥
𝑥= =
𝐿 𝑑𝐿

1
0
𝑥 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑥= 1
0
4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦

1
0
𝑦2 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑥= 1
0
4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦

𝑥 = 0.4100𝑚
CONSIDERING THE DIFFERENTIAL ELEMENT dL:
𝑑𝐿 = 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝐿
𝑑𝑦
FOR THE Y-BAR:

𝑦𝑑𝐿 𝑦𝑑𝐿 𝑑𝑥
𝑦= =
𝐿 𝑑𝐿

1
0
𝑦 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑦= 1
0
4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦

1
0
𝑦 4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦
𝑦= 1
0
4𝑦 2 + 1𝑑𝑦

𝑦 = 0.5736𝑚
PROBLEM 2 𝑦

LOCATE THE
CENTROID OF THE
CIRCULAR WIRE
SEGMENT SHOWN
𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃

𝜃
𝑥
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑥𝑑𝐿 𝑥𝑑𝐿
𝑥= =
𝐿 𝑑𝐿
𝑦
𝜋 𝜋
2 𝑟 cos 𝜃 𝑟𝑑𝜃 2 𝑟 2 cos 𝜃
𝑥= 0
𝜋 = 0
𝜋
𝑑𝜃
RECALL: 𝑑𝐴𝑟𝑐 = 𝑟𝜃𝑟𝑎𝑑
2 𝑟𝑑𝜃 2 𝑟𝑑𝜃
0 0

𝜋
𝑟2 0
2 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑥= 𝜋
𝑟 02 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝐿 = 𝑟𝑑𝜃
0.5𝜋
𝑟 2 sin𝜃 𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃
2
𝑥 = ______________ 0 𝑟 sin 0.5𝜋 − sin 0
=
0.5𝜋 𝑟 0.5𝜋 − 0
𝑟𝜃
0 𝑑𝜃 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝑟 2𝑟
𝑥=
0.5𝜋
=
𝜋
RECALL: sin 0.5𝜋 = 1
𝜃
sin 0 = 0 𝑥

𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃
FOR THE Y-BAR:
𝑦𝑑𝐿 𝑦𝑑𝐿
𝑦= =
𝐿 𝑑𝐿
𝑦
𝜋 𝜋
2 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝑟𝑑𝜃 2 𝑟 2 sin 𝜃
𝑦= 0
𝜋 = 0
𝜋
𝑑𝜃
RECALL: 𝑑𝐴𝑟𝑐 = 𝑟𝜃𝑟𝑎𝑑
2 𝑟𝑑𝜃 2 𝑟𝑑𝜃
0 0

𝜋
𝑟2 0
2 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑥= 𝜋
𝑟 02 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝐿 = 𝑟𝑑𝜃
0.5𝜋
2
𝑟 [−cos 𝜃 ] 𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃
0
𝑥 = ___________________ 𝑟 2 −cos 0.5𝜋 − − cos 0.5𝜋
=
0.5𝜋 𝑟 0.5𝜋 − 0
𝑟𝜃
0 𝑑𝜃 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃
𝑟 2𝑟
𝑥=
0.5𝜋
=
𝜋
RECALL: cos 0.5𝜋 = 0
𝜃
cos 0 = 1 𝑥

𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃
QUARTER ARC 𝑦

FOR THE X-BAR:

2𝑟
𝑥=
𝜋

FOR THE X-BAR:

2𝑟 𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃
𝑦=
𝜋

FOR THE LENGTH: 𝑦

𝜋𝑟
𝐿= 𝜃
2 𝑥

𝑥
 SEMI-CIRCULAR ARC 𝑦
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑥=0

FOR THE X-BAR:

2𝑟 𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃
𝑦=
𝜋

FOR THE LENGTH:

𝑦
𝐿 = 𝜋r
𝜃
𝑥
 𝑦

CIRCULAR ARC
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑟
𝑟 sin 𝛼
𝑥=
𝛼

FOR THE X-BAR: 𝛼

𝑥
𝑦=0 𝛼

FOR THE LENGTH: 𝑥

𝐿 = 2𝛼𝑟
PROBLEM 3
Locate the centroid
of the area shown. 𝑦 = 𝑥2

1𝑚

𝑥
1𝑚
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑥𝑑𝐴 𝑥𝑑𝐴
𝑥= =
𝐴 𝑑𝐴
1 1
0
𝑥 𝑦𝑑𝑥 0
𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑥= 1 = 1
0
𝑦𝑑𝑥 0
𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

1
0
𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥
𝑥= 1
0
𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑥2
𝑥 = 0.75𝑚
1𝑚

FOR THE Y-BAR:

𝑑𝐴 = 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑦𝑑𝐴 𝑦𝑑𝐴 𝑦
𝑦=
𝑦 =𝑦
=
𝐴 𝑑𝐴 𝑦
1 𝑦 1 𝑥2 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=
0 2 0 2
𝑦𝑑𝑥 =
1
0
1
0
𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑥
1 1𝑚
0
0.5𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥
𝑥= 1 𝑥
0
𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

𝑥 = 0.3𝑚 𝑥
PROBLEM 4
ℎ
Determine the
𝑦= 𝑏−𝑥
𝑏

distance measured
from the axis to the ℎ
centroid of the area
of the triangle 𝑦

𝑥
𝑏
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑥𝑑𝐴 𝑥𝑑𝐴
𝑥= =
𝐴 𝑑𝐴
𝑏 𝑏 ℎ
𝑥 𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑏 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0 0 𝑏
𝑥= =
𝑏
𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑏 ℎ ℎ
0 𝑏 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑏 𝑦= 𝑏−𝑥
𝑏 ℎ 2 𝑏
ℎ𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑏
𝑥=
𝑏 ℎ
ℎ − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑏

𝑏
ℎ𝑥 2 ℎ 𝑥 3 ℎ
−
2 𝑏 3 0
𝑥 = ______________ 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑦𝑑𝑥
ℎ 𝑥2 𝑏
ℎ𝑥 −
𝑏 2 0

ℎ𝑏 2 ℎ 𝑏3 ℎ 0 2
ℎ 0 3 𝑦
2 −𝑏 − −
3 2 𝑏 3
𝑥=
ℎ 𝑏2 ℎ 0 2
ℎ𝑏 − 2 − ℎ(0) −
𝑏 𝑏 2
ℎ𝑏 2 ℎ𝑏 2 ℎ𝑏 2 𝑥
2 − 3 𝑏 𝑏
𝑥= = 6 =
ℎ𝑏 ℎ𝑏 3
ℎ𝑏 − 2 2 𝑥
FOR THE Y-BAR: FROM THE EQUATION, SOLVE FOR X:
𝑦𝑑𝐴 𝑦𝑑𝐴 ℎ
𝑦= = 𝑦= 𝑏−𝑥
𝐴 𝑑𝐴 𝑏

ℎ ℎ 𝑏 𝑏
𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑦 𝑦 𝑏−𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑏−𝑥
0 0 ℎ ℎ
𝑦= =
ℎ
𝑥𝑑𝑦 ℎ 𝑏 ℎ
0 𝑏−𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑏
0 ℎ 𝑦= 𝑏−𝑥
𝑏 𝑥 =𝑏−𝑦
ℎ 𝑏 ℎ
𝑏𝑦 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
0 ℎ
𝑦=
ℎ 𝑏 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑥𝑑𝑦
𝑏 − 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
0 ℎ

ℎ
𝑏𝑦 2 𝑏 𝑦 3 ℎ
−
2 ℎ 3
𝑦 = ______________ 0
𝑦
𝑏 𝑦2 ℎ
𝑏𝑦 −
ℎ 2 0

𝑏ℎ2 𝑏 ℎ3 𝑏 0 2
𝑏 0 3 𝑦
2 −ℎ − −
3 2 ℎ 3
𝑦=
𝑏 ℎ2 𝑏 0 2
𝑏ℎ − 2 − 𝑏(0) −
ℎ ℎ 2
𝑏ℎ2 𝑏ℎ2 𝑏ℎ2 𝑥
2 − 3 ℎ 𝑏
𝑦= = 6 =
𝑏ℎ 𝑏ℎ 3
𝑏ℎ − 2 2
RECTANGLE
FOR THE X-BAR:
1
𝑥= 𝑏
2

FOR THE X-BAR:

ℎ
1
𝑦= ℎ
2
𝑦
FOR THE LENGTH:
𝐴 = 𝑏ℎ

𝑥
𝑏
TRIANGLE
FOR THE X-BAR:
1
𝑥= 𝑏
3

FOR THE X-BAR:

ℎ
1
𝑦= ℎ
3

FOR THE LENGTH: 𝑦

1
𝐴= 𝑏ℎ
2
𝑥
𝑏
AREA UNDER SPANDREL
FOR THE X-BAR:
1
𝑥= 𝑏
4

FOR THE X-BAR:

1𝑚 𝑦 = 𝑥2
3
𝑦= ℎ
10

FOR THE LENGTH:

𝑦
1
𝐴= 𝑏ℎ
3
𝑥
1𝑚
AREA UNDER SPANDREL
FOR THE X-BAR:
1
𝑥= 𝑏
𝑛+2

FOR THE X-BAR:

1𝑚 𝑦 = 𝑘𝑥 𝑛 NOTE!
𝑛+1
𝑦= ℎ 𝑛≥0
4𝑛 + 2

FOR THE LENGTH:

𝑦
1
𝐴= 𝑏ℎ
𝑛+1
𝑥
1𝑚
QUARTER ARC 𝑦

FOR THE X-BAR:

4𝑟
𝑥=
3𝜋

FOR THE X-BAR:

4𝑟 𝑟 𝑟, 𝜃
𝑦=
3𝜋

FOR THE LENGTH: 𝑦

1 2
𝐴= 𝜋𝑟 𝑥
4

𝑥
 SEMI-CIRCULAR ARC 𝑦
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑥=0

FOR THE X-BAR:

4𝑟 𝑟
𝑦=
3𝜋

FOR THE LENGTH:

𝑦
1 2
𝐴 = 𝜋r
2 𝑥
 𝑦

CIRCULAR ARC
FOR THE X-BAR:
𝑟
2 𝑟 sin 𝛼
𝑥=
3 𝛼

FOR THE X-BAR: 𝛼

𝑥
𝑦=0 𝛼

FOR THE LENGTH: 𝑥

𝐴 = 𝛼𝑟 2
PROBLEM 5 𝑧

𝑧 2 = 100𝑦

Locate the y
centroid for the 100𝑚𝑚

paraboloid of
revolution, shown in 𝑦

the figure.
𝑥

100𝑚𝑚
 RECALL:
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
𝑧
FOR THE Y-BAR:
𝑦𝑑𝑉 𝑦𝑑𝑉 𝑧 2 = 100𝑦
𝑦= =
𝑉 𝑑𝑉

100 100 (0, 𝑦, 𝑧)

0
𝑦 𝜋𝑧 2 𝑑𝑦 0
𝑦 𝜋 100𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑦= 100 = 100
𝜋𝑧 2 𝑑𝑦 𝜋 100𝑦 𝑑𝑦 100𝑚𝑚
0 0 𝑑𝑉= 𝜋𝑧 2 𝑑𝑦
100 𝑧
100𝜋𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦
0
𝑦= 100 𝑦
0
100𝜋𝑦𝑑𝑦

𝑦 = 66.6667𝑚𝑚
𝑥 𝑑𝑦

𝑦
𝑦
100𝑚𝑚
 CENTROIDS OF SURFACES
CONICAL SURFACE HEMISPHERICAL SURFACE

FOR THE Z-BAR: FOR THE Z-BAR:

𝟐 𝟏
𝒛= 𝒉 𝒛= 𝑹
𝟑 𝟐

FOR THE AREA: FOR THE AREA:

𝑨 = 𝟐𝝅𝑹𝟐
𝑨 = 𝝅𝑹 𝑹𝟐 + 𝒉𝟐
 CENTROIDS OF VOLUMES
CONE HEMISPHERE

FOR THE Z-BAR: FOR THE Z-BAR:

𝟑 𝟓
𝒛= 𝒉 𝒛= 𝑹
𝟒 𝟖

FOR THE AREA: FOR THE AREA:

𝟏 𝟐
𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
 CENTROIDS OF VOLUMES
RIGHT TETRAHEDRON PYRAMID

FOR THE DISTANCES: FOR THE Z-BAR:

𝟏 𝟏 𝟑
𝒙= 𝒂𝒚= 𝒃 𝒛= 𝒉
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
𝟏
𝒛= 𝒉 FOR THE AREA:
𝟒
FOR THE AREA: 𝟏
𝑨 = 𝒂𝒃𝒉
𝟏 𝟑
𝑨 = 𝒂𝒃𝒉
𝟔
 CENTROIDS OF VOLUMES
SEMI-ELLIPSOID OF REVOLUTION PARABOLOID OF REVOLUTION

FOR THE Z-BAR: FOR THE Z-BAR:

𝟓 𝟐
𝒛= 𝒉 𝒛= 𝒉
𝟖 𝟑

FOR THE AREA: FOR THE AREA:

𝟐 𝟏
𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉
𝟑 𝟐
 𝑦
COMPOSITE AREA

COMPOSITE FIGURES
100𝑚𝑚

𝑥
25𝑚𝑚
A COMPOSITE FIGURE IS A FIGURE 50𝑚𝑚

FORMED BY COMBINING COMMON

GEOMETRIC SHAPES (AREAS OR
𝑦

COMPOSITE LINE
LINES) AND/OR AREAS BOUNDED
BY FUNCTIONS.
200𝑚𝑚
75𝑚𝑚
𝑥
125𝑚𝑚
 𝑦
COMPOSITE AREA
𝐴1

𝑥1 𝐴2

COMPOSITE FIGURES
100𝑚𝑚

𝑦1 𝑥2
𝑦2
𝑥
25𝑚𝑚 𝑦3
A COMPOSITE AREA (ALSO 𝑥3 50𝑚𝑚

COMPOSITE LINE AND VOLUME) CAN 𝐴3

BE BROKEN DOWN INTO SUB-AREAS 𝑦

WHEREIN GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES COMPOSITE LINE

(AREA AND INDIVIDUAL CENTROIDS)
OF SUB-AREAS ARE AVAILABLE. 𝐿2
𝐿3

200𝑚𝑚
75𝑚𝑚
𝐿1 𝑥
125𝑚𝑚
 𝑦
COMPOSITE AREA

VARIGNON’S THEOREM
𝐴1

𝑥1 𝐴2
100𝑚𝑚

𝑦1 𝑥2
“THE FIRST MOMENT OF THE COMPOSITE FIGURE 𝑦2

IS EQUAL TO THE SUM OF THE MOMENTS OF ITS 25𝑚𝑚 𝑦3

𝑥

INDIVIDUAL SUB AREAS ABOUT THE SAME AXIS.”

𝑥3 50𝑚𝑚
𝐴3

𝑦
𝐴𝑇 𝑥 = 𝐴𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝐴𝑇 𝑦 = 𝐴𝑖 𝑦𝑖
COMPOSITE LINE
𝐴𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝐴𝑖 𝑦𝑖
𝑥= 𝑦=
𝐴𝑇 𝐴𝑇
𝐿3
𝐿2
𝐴1 𝑥1 + 𝐴2 𝑥2 + 𝐴3 𝑥3 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛 𝑥𝑛
𝑥= 75𝑚𝑚
200𝑚𝑚
𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + 𝐴3 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛 𝐿1 𝑥
125𝑚𝑚
NOTE! FOR COMPOSITE LINE, USE LENGTH (𝐿 𝑇 , 𝐿𝑖 ) INSTEAD OF AREA (𝐴 𝑇 , 𝐴𝑖 ).
PROBLEM 5
Using the method of
composite areas,
determine the
location of the
centroid of the
shaded area shown
in the figure here.
 Area 𝒙 𝒚
Figure
𝒎𝟐 (𝒎) (𝒎)
(0.8)(0.7) 0.5(700)
RECTANGLE = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟔
𝟎
= 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓

4(0.3)
−0.5𝜋(0.32 ) −0.4 + 0.1 + 0.3
SEMICIRCLE = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟓𝝅
3𝜋
= 𝟎. 𝟒
𝟎. 𝟒
= −𝟎. 𝟒 +
𝝅
1 1
−0.5(0.2)(0.4) 0.4 − (0.2) 0.7 − (0.4)
TRIANGLE 3 3
= −𝟎. 𝟎𝟒 = 𝟏/𝟑 = 𝟏𝟕/𝟑𝟎
𝑥
0.4 1
0.56 0 + −0.045𝜋 −0.4 +
+ −0.04
𝑥= 𝜋 3 × 1000𝑚𝑚 𝑦
0.56 + −0.045𝜋 + −0.04 1𝑚
𝑥 = 66.5965𝑚𝑚

17
0.56 0.35 + −0.045𝜋 0.4 + −0.04
𝑦= 30 × 1000𝑚𝑚
0.56 + −0.045𝜋 + −0.04 1𝑚
𝑦 = 308.4414𝑚𝑚
PROBLEM 6
𝑦

Using the method of 100𝑚𝑚

composite areas,
determine the
location of the 𝑥
centroid of the 25𝑚𝑚
shaded area shown 50𝑚𝑚

in the figure here.

PROBLEM 7
Using the method of
composite curves,
determine the
centroidal
coordinates of the
line in the figure that
consists of the
circular arc 1, and the
straight lines 2 and 3.
 FOR DISTANCE “b”: FOR ANGLE “α”:
Length 𝒙 𝒚 𝑦
Figure 2
𝒊𝒏 (𝒊𝒏) (𝒊𝒏) 2 2
𝑐 =𝑎 +𝑏 2
cos 𝛼 =
6
2(1.2310)(6) 2(6) sin 1.2310
−2
(6𝑖𝑛)2 = 2𝑖𝑛 2
+ 𝑏2
ARC 1 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟕𝟕𝟐
1.2310 𝟎 𝛼 = 70.5288°
= 𝟐. 𝟓𝟗𝟓𝟑 𝑏 = 4 2𝑖𝑛 𝛼 = 1.2310𝑟𝑎𝑑

2
8 4 2
LINE 2 82 + 4 2
− = −𝟒
2 2
=𝟐 𝟐
=𝟒 𝟔
6 𝑖𝑛 6 𝑖𝑛 𝑏 = 4 2𝑖𝑛
5 𝑥 𝛼 = 1.2310𝑟𝑎𝑑
LINE 3 𝟓 −𝟖 −
2
= −𝟐. 𝟓
𝑦 𝑥

14.772 2.5953 + 4 6 −4 + 5 −8 5 𝑖𝑛
𝑥=
14.772 + 4 6 + 5 2 𝑖𝑛
𝑥 = −1.3816 𝑖𝑛

14.772 0 + 4 6 2 2 + 5 −2.5
𝑦= 8 𝑖𝑛
14.772 + 4 6 + 5
𝑦 = 0.5145 𝑖𝑛
PROBLEM 8
𝑦

Using the method of

composite curves,
determine the
centroidal
coordinates of the
line in the figure that 200𝑚𝑚
consists of the 75𝑚𝑚

circular arc 1, and the

𝑥

straight lines 2 and 3.

125𝑚𝑚
PROBLEM 9
Use the method of
composite volumes to
determine the location
of the centroid of the
volume for the machine
part shown in the
figure.
SINCE THE FIGURE IS SYMMETRICAL, THEREFORE, 𝑥 = 0
 Area 𝒚 𝒛
FIG
𝒊𝒏𝟑 (𝒎) (𝒎)
0.8 3.25
1
0.8(5)(3.25) = −𝟎. 𝟒𝟎 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟓
−
2 2
= 𝟏𝟑

4(2.5)
2 0.8 + 3.25
2
0.5 𝜋 2.5 (0.8) 3𝜋
− = −𝟎. 𝟒𝟎
= 𝟐. 𝟓𝝅 2
= 𝟒. 𝟑𝟏𝟏𝟎

4.3
3
4.3 5 0.75 − 0.8 0.75
2 − = −𝟎. 𝟑𝟕𝟓
= 𝟏𝟔. 𝟏𝟐𝟓 2
= 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓

2 0.8
4 − 𝜋 1.25 (0.8)
−
2
= −𝟎. 𝟒𝟎 𝟑. 𝟐𝟓
= −𝟏. 𝟐𝟓𝝅

13 −0.40 + 2.5𝜋 −0.40 + 16.125 1.35 + −1.25𝜋 −0.40

𝑦=
13 + 2.5𝜋 + 16.125 + −1.25𝜋

𝑦 = 0.4538 𝑖𝑛

13 1.625 + 2.5𝜋 4.3110 + 16.125 −0.375 + −1.25𝜋 3.25

𝑧=
13 + 2.5𝜋 + 16.125 + −1.25𝜋

𝑧 = 1.0945 𝑖𝑛
PROBLEM 10
Use the method of
composite volumes to
determine the location
of the centroid of the
volume for the machine
part shown in the
figure.
PROBLEM 11
Determine the centroidal
coordinates for the
composite curve made up
of three segments: the
semicircular arc 1, and the
straight lines 2 and 3.
 CENTER OF GRAVITY
RECALL:
𝑥𝑑𝑉 𝑦𝑑𝑉 𝑧𝑑𝑉
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑧=
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑉

RECALL: 𝛾 = 𝜌𝑔 𝑊 = 𝛾𝑉
𝑊 = 𝜌𝑔𝑉
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉
THEREFORE:
𝑥𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝑦𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝑧𝜌𝑑𝑉
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑧=
𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝜌𝑑𝑉
 CENTER OF GRAVITY
𝑥𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝑦𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝑧𝜌𝑑𝑉
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑧=
𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝜌𝑑𝑉 𝜌𝑑𝑉

USING THE VARIGNON’S THEOREM:

𝑚𝑇 𝑥 = 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝑚𝑇 𝑦 = 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑦𝑖 𝑚𝑇 𝑧 = 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑧𝑖

𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑦𝑖 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝑧𝑖
𝑥= 𝑦= 𝑧=
𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖 𝜌𝑖 𝑉𝑖

𝜌1 𝑉1 𝑥1 + 𝜌2 𝑉2 𝑥2 + ⋯ + 𝜌𝑛 𝑉𝑛 𝑥𝑛
𝑥=
𝜌1 𝑉1 + 𝜌2 𝑉2 + ⋯ + 𝜌𝑛 𝑉𝑛
PROBLEM 12
The machine part in the figure
consists of a steel hemisphere
joined to an aluminum cylinder
into which a hole has been
drilled. Determine the location
of the center of mass. The
mass densities for aluminum
and steel are 2700 kg/m3 and
7850 kg/m3, respectively.
SINCE THE FIGURE IS SYMMETRICAL, THEREFORE, 𝑥 = 0
𝑧=0

FOR THE ALUMINUM BIG CYLINDER:

100
𝑚 = 𝜌𝑉 𝑦=
2
𝑚 = 2700 𝜋 0.03 2 (0.1) 𝑦 = 50𝑚𝑚

𝑚 = 0.7634𝑘𝑔

FOR THE STEEL HEMISPHERE:

2𝜋 3
3
𝑚 = 7850 0.03 𝑦 = − (30)
3 8
𝑚 = 0.4439𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = −11.25𝑚𝑚

FOR THE ALUMINUM SMALL CYLINDER:

50
𝑚 = −2700 𝜋 0.0125 2 (0.05) 𝑦= + 50
2
𝑚 = −0.06627𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = 75𝑚𝑚
 𝑚 = 0.7634𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = 50𝑚𝑚

𝑚 = 0.4439𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = −11.25𝑚𝑚

𝑚 = −0.06627𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = 75𝑚𝑚

FOR THE ALUMINUM CONE:

𝜋 3
𝑚 = −2700 0.0125 2 (0.02) 𝑦 = 30 + (20)
3 4
𝑚 = −0.008836𝑘𝑔 𝑦 = 45𝑚𝑚

FOR THE CENTER OF MASS:

0.7634 50 + 0.4439 −11.25 + −0.06627 75 + −0.008836 45
𝑦=
0.7634 + 0.4439 + −0.06627 + −0.008836

𝑦 = 24.5614𝑚𝑚

𝑥=0

𝑧=0
 ENGINEERING MECHANICS:
CENTROIDS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY
CVE 201 / ME 202: STATICS OF RIGID BODIES

This material is for use and distribution only within the

CVE 201 / ME 202: STATICS OF RIGID BODIES