Assignment 4

 Center of Gravity and Centroid:

Center of gravity is the point where the total weight of the
body acts while centroid is the geometric center of the object. Centre of gravity or center of mass is the
point where the whole mass of the body is concentrated. Centroid is the center of gravity for objects of
uniform density.
The words center and gravity are derived from the Latin (or Greek) words “centrum” and “gravitatio”.
The center (centroid) represents the center of mass that is in the cross-section of the diagonals of the
body, and gravity – the weight, the attractive force between particles in the universe under which the
celestial bodies move.
 Centre of Gravity:
A center of mass that, besides center of gravity, is called a bray center (the
name derives from the Greek word barrio, meaning heavy) is the point of an object or system of material
points (in ℝ, ℝ2 or ℝ3) in which the whole mass of the object concentrated. This concept allows the
whole object to be viewed as one material point whose mass is equal to the total mass of that body. The
center of mass exists for any system of material points, regardless of whether a force is acting on the
system or not. The center of the mass is the point where the gravitational force is acting on the body. The
center of mass can also be located outside the body’s mass limits, which depends on its shape. The center
of gravity of the triangle is in the cross-section of the angle bisections and the center of gravity of the
cube in the cross section of its diagonals. In case of irregular geometric bodies, the center of gravity is
located in the intersection of the gravity lines. This is the point that is at an average distance from all the
particles of a system or individual body particle, where the total external force is acting on the particle
system or the body. If a particle or body system moves under the influence of an external force, the point
at which the center of gravity is located moves as if it contains all the mass of the system or body. If the
body is not with uniform density, the center of mass (gravity) does not have to be in the geometric canter
of the body. The position of the center of gravity for the particle system in the Cartesian coordinate
system is determined by the radius vector r s= Σmri / Σmi, where mi are the masses of the particles, and r i
are the radius vectors of the particles. The position of the center of the mass of the rigid body in the
Cartesian coordinate system is determined by the radius vector rS = (∫rρdV) / M, where r is the unit
vector, ρ is the body’s density, V volume, and M is the mass of the body.

 Centroid:
The geometric center in referred to as centroid. Simply stated, the centroid
corresponds with the center of gravity in case when the body is homogeneous (with constant density). In
physics, centroid of a body is defined as the focus point of the vectors’ collection of the gravitational
acceleration of all the material points of the same object. If the body is homogeneous this point is located
in the intersection of the gravitational lines, and in right geometric bodies it is determined geometrically.
Archimedes was the first to describe the process by which an objects’ centroid can be found. He proposed
cutting a cardboard with the objects’ shape and piercing several holes in it. Then nail it on the wall on one
of the holes and let it hang freely. Hang plumb on the same nail. Draw with a pencil the direction
determined by the direction of the end of the plumb. This direction is called the center of gravity of the
object. Hang the body on the other holes and repeat the procedure.

 Significance of Centre of Gravity in Engineering Applications:

A centroid is the center
of gravity of a triangle. Knowing the centroid will allow engineers to calculate whether or not that
triangle will be able to balance. This is most useful when engineers are working with uniform density
triangles of even thickness.
  Center of Mass:
An object of any shape will be balance perfectly on its centroid.
On any point along the vertical line that passed through centroid, the object remains balanced.
 Engineering application:
In construction to properly balance structure with minimum stress.

 Significance of location of Centre of Gravity in Design of Automobiles:

The center of gravity is perhaps the single most critical
area of any racing car weight consideration. It must be as low as possible to the ground, and this is not
only because the weight act through it, but also because all accelerative forces of acceleration, braking
and cornering work through it.
In the automotive industry, the center of gravity height is an essential parameter. The lower the center of
gravity is, the more stability the car or truck has. This explains why SUVs have more rollover issues than
cars, because they are higher off the road so their center of gravity is higher. Race cars always have a very
low center of gravity. Some racing organizations limit the allowable location of the center of gravity
height of race cars to keep a fair competition.