CENTROID AND CENTER OF

GRAVITY OF 2D FIGURES
INTRODUCTION: MOMENTS
MOMENT - the product
of a physical quantity,
such as force or mass,
and its distance from a
fixed reference point1.

MOMENT OF A FORCE
= Force x Perpendicular
distance (M = Fd)

1 source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/moment
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
Consider the differential
area dA. The first
moment of dA about the
y-axis is:

dQy = xdA

S i m i l a r l y, t h e f i r s t
moment of dA about the
x-axis is:

dQx= ydA
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
If we integrate dQy, we
get the first moment of
area about the y-axis:

S i m i l a r l y, t h e f i r s t
moment of area about
the x-axis is:
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
Q can have either a
positive value, a negative
value, or be equal to
zero, depending on the
location of the area
relative to the axis where
moment is required.
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
Q can have either a
positive value, a negative
value, or be equal to
zero, depending on the
location of the area
relative to the axis where
moment is required.
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
Q can have either a
positive value, a negative
value, or be equal to
zero, depending on the
location of the area
relative to the axis where
moment is required.
FIRST MOMENT OF AREA (Q)
Q about an axis of
symmetry is equal to
zero.

In this example, for every

dA located +y from the x-
axis, there is a d A
located at –y.
CENTROID OF AN AREA
CENTROID OF AN AREA
The centroid lies along
the axis of symmetry.

In this example, QX = 0
 A(y-bar) = 0
 y-bar = 0

An axis of symmetry is
also a centroidal axis.
FIRST MOMENT OF A LINE (Q)
Consider the differential
line segment dL. The first
moment of dL about the
y-axis is:

dQy = xdL

S i m i l a r l y, t h e f i r s t
moment of dL about the
x-axis is:

dQx= ydA
FIRST MOMENT OF A LINE (Q)
If we integrate dQy, we
get the first moment of
the line about the y-axis:

S i m i l a r l y, t h e f i r s t
moment of the line about
the x-axis is:
CENTROID OF A LINE
Centroid of Plane Curves
Centroid of Plane Curves
Centroid of Plane Areas
Centroid of Plane Areas
Centroid of Plane Areas
Centroid of Plane Areas
COMPOSITE FIGURES
A composite figure is a figure formed by combining
common geometric shapes (areas or lines) and/or areas
bounded by functions.
COMPOSITE FIGURES
A composite area can be broken down into sub-areas
wherein the geometric properties (area and individual
centroids) of sub-areas are available.
COMPOSITE FIGURES
The first moment of the composite figure is equal to the
algebraic sum of the moment of the individual sub-areas
about the same axis (Varignon’s Theorem).
COMPOSITE FIGURES
The first moment of the composite figure is equal to the
algebraic sum of the moment of the individual sub-areas
about the same axis (Varignon’s Theorem).
EXAMPLE
Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the composite
figure shown.
EXAMPLE : Solution
EXAMPLE
:Solution
EXAMPLE
:Solution
EXAMPLE
Determine the coordinates of the centroid of the
composite figure shown.
EXAMPLE
Practice Problems: Determine the Centroid
of Plane Areas
Practice Problems: Determine the Centroid
of the lines