MODULE 8

CHAPTER 8:

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

1. Understand the principle of Centroid

2. Apply integration in determining Centroid of plane areas

Centroid

The centroid of a mass is a point such that the first moments of the
mass with respect to any plane is the same as if the whole mass were
concentrated at that point. The first moments of a mass with respect to
any plane through the centroid is zero.

In determination of centroids, the following considerations are often

useful (the first two apply only to homogeneous masses).

1. If the body has a geometrical center, that point is the centroid.

2. Any plane or line of symmetry must contain the centroid.
3. If the body consists of several portions for each of which the centroid
can be found, each portion may be imagined concentrated at its centroid for
the sole purpose of computing first moments.

Centroid of the System of Particles

The coordinates of the centroid of a system of particles are given by the

formulas.

𝑀𝑥̅ = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 𝑀𝑦̅ = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑦𝑖 𝑀𝑧̅ = ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑚𝑖 𝑧𝑖

Example 1:

Find the centroid of a metal plate having the

shape shown in the figure.

Sol’n:

Dividing the area into rectangles by the dotted

lines, we have 16 units at P:(4,1), 8 units at
Q:(1,4), and 24 units at R:(3,8), Hence,

𝑀𝑥̅ = 𝑃𝑥1 + 𝑄𝑥2 + 𝑅𝑥3

𝑀 = 16 + 8 + 24 = 48

48𝑥̅ = (16)(4) + (8)(1) + (24)(3) = 144

144
𝑥̅ = 48
=𝟑

𝑀𝑦̅ = 𝑃𝑦1 + 𝑄𝑦2 + 𝑅𝑦3

𝑀 = 16 + 8 + 24 = 48

48𝑦̅ = (16)(1) + (8)(4) + (24)(8) = 240

240
𝑦̅ = 48
=𝟓

MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 1
 Therefore Centroid is at C:(3,5)

Example 2:

Find the centroid of a square plate with a square cut out of the corner.

Sol’n:

Placed the axes as shown, we might

consider the figure as composed of two
rectangles C’B’DC, A’ABD; but the algebra
is much simpler if we consider it as a
square plate OABC, together with a plate
OA’B’C’ of numerically equal but negative
density:

𝑎 𝑏
𝑀𝑥̅ = 𝑀𝑦̅ = (𝑎2 ) (2 ) − (𝑏 2 ) (2)

𝑀 = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2

𝑎 3 −𝑏3
𝑥̅ = 𝑦̅ = 2(𝑎2 −𝑏2 )

𝒂𝟐 +𝒂𝒃+𝒃𝟐
𝑥̅ = 𝑦̅ = 𝟐(𝒂+𝒃)

Example 3:

Two posts of equal radius, 6ft. and 4ft. tall, stand upright 5 ft apart.
Find the Centroid.

Sol’n:

𝑀𝑥̅ = 𝑃1 𝑥1 + 𝑃2 𝑥2

𝑀 = 6 + 4 = 10

10𝑥̅ = (6)(0) + (4)(5)

20
𝑥̅ = 10 = 𝟐 𝒇𝒕.

𝑀𝑦̅ = 𝑃1 𝑦1 + 𝑃2 𝑦2

𝑀 = 6 + 4 = 10

10𝑦̅ = (6)(3) + (4)(2)

26
𝑦̅ = 10 = 𝟐. 𝟔 𝒇𝒕.

Therefore centroid is located 2 feet from the taller post and 2.6 feet
above the ground.

MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 2
Determination of Centroid by Integration

Let 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑦𝑖 , 𝑧𝑖 be the coordinates of the centroid of mass ∆𝑚𝑖 . Then the product
𝑥𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 is the simple mass moment of ∆𝑚𝑖 with respect to the 𝑦𝑧-plane (or the y-
axis, for a plane mass in the 𝑥𝑦-plane), and the limit of the sum of all such
moments is the moment of the whole mass.In this way we obtain the following
formulas:

𝑀𝑥̅ = lim ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑥𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 = ∫ 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝑚

𝑛→∞

𝑀𝑦̅ = lim ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑦𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 = ∫ 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝑚

𝑛→∞

𝑀𝑧̅ = lim ∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑧𝑖 ∆𝑚𝑖 = ∫ 𝑧𝑐 𝑑𝑚

𝑛→∞

Centroid of a Plane Area

In any system of coordinates, the following are formula in determining the

centroid of plane areas.

𝑏 𝑏
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫𝑎 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴 𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫𝑎 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴

𝐴 = ∫ 𝑑𝐴 = ∫ 𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫ 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴

𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫ 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴 𝑦
If 𝑌𝑐 =
2
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫ 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴
Therefore,
If 𝑥𝑐 = 𝑥 𝑦
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫ 𝑑𝐴
2
Therefore,
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝐴

MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 3
Where 𝑥𝑐 is the distance of the centroid from the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 and 𝑦𝑐 is the
distance of the centroid from the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠.

Example 1:

Find the centroid of the area in the first quadrant bounded by the parabola
2
𝑦 = 4𝑎𝑥 and its latus rectum.

Using vertical element, the area is:

𝑎
𝐴 = ∫𝑜 𝑦𝑑𝑥 ; 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑢 − 𝑦𝑙 = √4𝑎𝑥 − 0

𝑦 = 2√𝑎√𝑥
𝑎
𝐴 = 2√𝑎 ∫𝑜 √𝑥𝑑𝑥

3 𝑎
𝑥2
= 2 √𝑎 [ 3 ]
2 0

4
𝐴 = 3 𝑎2

The centroid of the element is (x,y/2).Using the formula for centroid:

𝑎
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴 𝑎
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴
𝑎
= ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑎1
= ∫𝑜 2 𝑦𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑎
= ∫𝑜 𝑥(2√𝑎√𝑥)𝑑𝑥 1 𝑎
= 2 ∫𝑜 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥
3
𝑎
= 2√𝑎 ∫𝑜 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 1 𝑎
= 2 . 4𝑎 ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑑𝑥
5 𝑎
𝑥2 𝑎
𝑥2
= 2√𝑎 [ 5 ] = 2𝑎 [ 2 ]
2 0 0

𝐴𝑥̅ = 5 𝑎3
4 𝐴𝑦̅ = 𝑎3
4
4 2 4 3
𝑎2 𝑦̅ = 𝑎3
𝑎 𝑥̅ = 5 𝑎 3
3
𝟑
𝟑 ̅= 𝒂
𝒚
̅= 𝒂
𝒙 𝟒
𝟓

MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 4
Example 2:

Find the centroid of the area in the first quadrant bounded by the curve
2
9 − 𝑥 = 𝑦 and the axes.

Considering the curve 9 − 𝑥 2 = 𝑦

𝑥 2 = −𝑦 + 9 , 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥 2

𝑥 2 = −(𝑦 − 9) Parabola w/ vertex at (0,9)and opens downward

Using vertical element, the area is:

3
𝐴 = ∫𝑜 𝑦𝑑𝑥 ; 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑢 − 𝑦𝑙 = 9 − 𝑥2 − 0

𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥2
3
𝐴 = ∫𝑜 (9 − 𝑥2 )𝑑𝑥

3
𝑥3
= [9𝑥 − ]
3 0

𝐴 = 18

The centroid of the element is (x,y/2).Using the formula for centroid:

3
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴 3
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴
3
= ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 1 3
= 2 ∫𝑜 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥
3
= ∫𝑜 𝑥(9 − 𝑥2 )𝑑𝑥 1 3
= 2 ∫𝑜 (9 − 𝑥2 )2 𝑑𝑥
3
= ∫𝑜 (9𝑥 − 𝑥3 )𝑑𝑥 1 3 4
= 2 ∫𝑜 (81 − 18𝑥2 + 𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥
3
9𝑥 2 𝑥4
=[ − ] 81 𝑥5
3
2 4 0 = [ 2 𝑥 − 3𝑥3 + 10 ]
0
81
𝐴𝑥̅ = 324
4 𝐴𝑦̅ = 5
81
18 𝑥̅ = 324
4 18 𝑦̅ = 5
𝟗
̅=
𝒙 𝟏𝟖
𝟖 ̅=
𝒚 𝟓

MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 5
Example 3:

Determine the centroid of the quarter circle as shown in the figure with
radius r.

Formula of circle is 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑟 2 and the

area of quarter circle is:

𝜋𝑟 2
𝐴= 4

The centroid C of the element is

(x,y/2).Using the formula for centroid:

𝑟 𝑟
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴 𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫𝑜 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴
𝑟
= ∫𝑜 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥 1
= 2 ∫𝑜 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑟

1
𝑟 2 2 1 𝑟 2
= ∫𝑜 𝑥 (𝑟2 − 𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫𝑜 (𝑟2 − 𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥

1 1 𝑥3 𝑟
=
1𝑟
− 2 ∫𝑜 𝑥 (𝑟2
2 2
− 𝑥 ) (−2𝑥𝑑𝑥) = 2 [ 𝑟2 𝑥 − 3 ]
0

𝑟 1 𝑟3
3
1 (𝑟 2 −𝑥 2 )2
= 2 [(𝑟 3 − ) − 0]
3
= −2[ 3 ]
2 1
0
𝐴𝑦̅ = 3 𝑟 3
3 𝑟
1
= − 3 [(𝑟 2 − 𝑥 2 )2 ] 𝜋𝑟2 1
0 𝑦̅ = 3 𝑟 3
4
3
1
= − 3 [0 − (𝑟 2 ) ] 2
̅=
𝒚
𝟒𝒓
𝟑𝝅
1
𝐴𝑥̅ = 3 𝑟 3

𝜋𝑟2 1
𝑥̅ = 3 𝑟 3
4

𝟒𝒓
̅=
𝒙 𝟑𝝅

𝑦 = 2√𝑎√𝑥
𝑎
𝐴 = 2√𝑎 ∫𝑜 √𝑥𝑑𝑥
MATH 113– INTEGRAL CALCULUS | PREPARED BY: ENGR. SALVADOR R. CARAS JR. 6
3 𝑎
𝑥2
= 2 √𝑎 [ 3 ]
2 0