Chapter 6
Centroid
Centroid, Center of Mass and center of gravity
• The centroid (C) is a point which defines the geometric center of
an object. If the material composing a body is uniform or
homogeneous, the density of material is constant (ρ = constant).
• The center of mass is the mean position of the mass in an object.
• The center of gravity (G) is a point that locates the resultant
weight of a system of particles. Also, the center of gravity, which
is the point where gravity appears to act.
• For many objects, these two points are in exactly the same place.
• But they're only the same when the gravitational field is uniform
across an object.
Center of mass & Centroids
Center of mass:
• A body of mass m in equilibrium under the
action of tension in the cord, and resultant
W of the gravitational forces acting on all
particles of the body.
-The resultant is collinear with the cord
Suspend the body from different points on
the body
• Dotted lines show lines of action of the
resultant force in each case.
• These lines of action will be concurrent at
a single point G
• The unique Point G is called the Center of
Gravity of the body (CG)
Centroids……….
• The centroid of an area is situated at its geometrical centre. In each of
the following figures ‘G’ represents the centroid, and if each area was
suspended from this point it would balance.
Determination of c.g
-Apply Principle of Moments
• Moment of resultant gravitational force W about any axis equals sum of
the moments about the same axis of the gravitational forces dW acting on
all particles treated as infinitesimal elements.
• Weight of the body W = ∫dW. Moment of weight of an
element (dW) @ x-axis = ydW
• Sum of moments for all elements of body = ∫ydW.
From Principle of Moments: ∫ydW = ӯ W
Center of mass…….
Determination of center of gravity
Centroids of Lines, Areas and Volumes
Guidelines for choice of element for integration
1) Order of selected element for integration
2) Continuity
3) Discarding higher order terms
4) Choice of coordinates
5) Centroidal coordinate of differential elements
1) Order of selected element for integration
• A first order differential element should be selected in preference to a
higher order element
• only one integration should cover the entire figure
2) Continuity:
• choose an element that can be integrated in one continuous operation to
cover the entire figure the function representing the body should be
continuous only one integral will cover the entire figure
• Discontinuity in the expression for the height of the strip at x = x1
• Continuity in the expression for the width of the strip
3) Discarding higher order terms
• Higher order terms may always be dropped compared with
lower order terms
• Vertical strip of area under the curve is given by the first order
term dA = ydx
• The second order triangular area 0.5dxdy may be discarded
4) Choice of Coordinates:
Coordinate system should best match the boundaries of the figure
Easiest coordinate system that satisfies boundary conditions should be chosen.
Boundaries of this area (not circular) Boundaries of this circular sector are
can be easily described in best suited to polar coordinates
rectangular coordinates
5) Centroidal coordinate of differential elements:
• To expressing moment of differential elements, take coordinates of the
centroid of the differential element as lever arm
(not the coordinate describing the boundary of the area)
Examples of centroid in table below:
Examples
Q.1 Locate the centroid of the plane shaded area shown below.
y
r =16 cm
8cm
x
a = 8 cm
Q. 2 Determine x- and y-coordinates of the
centroid of the trapezoidal area
Q.3 Locate the centroid of the shaded area
Q. 4Calculate by integration the y coordinate of the censored of the shaded area in the drawing.
Express your answer in terms of a and b.
Solution:
Determine the centroid of the cross-hatched region with respect to the
x and y axes.
2) Determine the volume V and total surface area A of the solid generated by revolving the
area shown through 180o about the z-axis
3) Locate the center of the shaded area under the parabola about x-axis. Solve by using
(a) a horizontal strip of area and
(b) a vertical strip of area.
