CENTRE OF GRAVITY

• Definition: The center of gravity of a body is a point through which the resultant of

the distributed gravity forces of all the particles constituting the body act irrespective of

the orientation of the body. It is denoted as "C.G“

OR

• The Point though which the whole weight of the body acts, irrespective of its position or

orientation, is known as Centre of gravity.

• Every body has one and only center of gravity.

 CENTROID

• The plane figures or geometrical shapes such as the circle, triangle, and
rectangle have only area but no mass. The center of area of such figures is
called the centroid.

OR

• Centroid is defined as geometrical center of a body.

 TABLE

If section is symmetrical about Y-axis, we can

find X̅ directly without any calculation.
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CENTRE OF GRAVITY & CENTROID

Srl No. Centre of Gravity Centroid

1. The term "center of gravity" The term "centroid" applies to plan

applies to the bodies with areas.
mass and weight.

2. Center of gravity of a body is Centroid is the point in a plane

the point through which the area such that the moment of the
resultant gravitational force area, about any axis, through that
(weight) of the body acts for point is zero.
any orientation of the body.

3. Center of gravity is the point at Centroid is the geometrical center

which a object can be of any body.
suspended and be in perfect
equilibrium
CENTRE OF MASS
 CENTRE OF MASS

• The center of mass of a distribution of mass is the point where the weighted relative
position of the distributed mass sums to zero.

• For simple rigid objects with uniform density, the center of mass is located at the
centroid. For example, the center of mass of a uniform disc shape would be at its center.

• Sometimes the center of mass doesn't fall anywhere on the object. The center of mass of
a ring for example is located at its center, where there isn't any material.

• For more complicated shapes, we need a more general mathematical definition of the
center of mass : it is the unique position at which the weighted position vectors of all the
parts of a system sum up to zero.
• But if the gravitational field strength were greater towards your feet and
weaker towards your head, then your centre of gravity would be below your
centre of mass, perhaps somewhere around your knees. If the gravitational
field strength were greater towards your head, and weaker towards your feet,
then your centre of gravity would be above your centre of mass, perhaps
somewhere around your shoulders.

• The object on the left, in a uniform gravitational field, has overlapping centres
of gravity and mass. For the object on the right, in which the gravitational
field is stronger towards its base, the centre of gravity is below the centre of
mass.
 PROCEDURE TO FIND CENTROID OF COMPOSITE AREA
1) Select suitable Co-ordinate axes (if not given)

2) Divide given area in to different parts having known area & known
centroid distances.

3) Check symmetry of figure:

a) If section is symmetrical about X-axis, we can find Y̅ directly without
any calculation.
b) If section is symmetrical about Y-axis, we can find X̅ directly without
any calculation.

4) To find out Co-ordinates of centroid use following formulae:

a) For areas:
i) X̅ = (A1 x X1) ± (A2 x X2) ± (A3 x X3) ± … ± (An x Xn) / (A1 ± A2 ± A3 ±… ±An)
ii) Y̅ = (A1 x Y1) ± (A2 x Y2) ± (A3 x Y3) ± … ± (An x Yn) / (A1 ± A2 ± A3 ±… ±An)
b) For Solid Bodies:
i) X̅ = (V1 x X1) ± (V2 x X2) ± (V3 x X3) ± … ± (Vn x Xn) / (V1 ± V2 ± V3 ±… ±Vn)
ii) Y̅ = (V1 x Y1) ± (V2 x Y2) ± (V3 x Y3) ± … ± (Vn x Yn) / (V1 ± V2 ± V3 ±… ±Vn)
• Where
• X1- Distance of centroid of part 1 from Y- axis.
• Y1- Distance of centroid of part 1 from X- axis.
• A1- Area of part 1.
• V1- Volume of part 1.

5) Locate the Co-ordinates (X̅, Y̅) in given figure w.r.t reference co-ordinate
axis.
 NUMERICAL
Q-1) Determine the coordinate of the center of gravity of the object as shown in
the figure below.

❖ Divide the object into three parts.

❖ Calculate the Area

➢ Area of part 1 (A1) = (2)(6) = 12 cm2
▪ The center point lies on the x axis (x1) = 1/2 (2) = 1 cm
▪ The center point lies on the y axis (y1) = 1/2 (6) = 3 cm

➢ Area of part 2 (A2) = (4)(2) = 8 cm2

▪ The center point lies on the x axis (x2) = 2 + (1/2)(4) = 2 + 2 = 4 cm
▪ The center point lies on the y axis (y2) = 2 + (1/2)(2) = 2 + 1 = 3 cm

➢Area of part 3 (A3) = (2)(6) = 12 cm2

▪ The center point lies on the x axis (x3) = 2 + 4 + (1/2)(2) = 2 + 4 + 1 = 7 cm
▪ The center point lies on the y axis (y3) = 1/2 (6) = 3 cm
Q) Find the centre of gravity of the T-section shown in Fig. below

➢ The given T-section is split up into two-rectangles ABCD and EFGH as shown above. The given
T-section is symmetrical about Y-Y axis. Hence the C.G. of the section will lie on the axis.
❖Divide the object into two parts.
Q-2) Determine the coordinate of the center of gravity of object , about the x axis.

Divide the object into three parts, A, B, C, and D

❖ Calculate the area of each part :

AA = ½ (base)(height) = ½ (1.5)(3) = (1.5)(1.5) = 2.25
AB = (length)(width) = (4.5-1.5)(1) = (3)(1) = 3
AC = ½ (base)(height) = ½ (6-4.5)(3) = (1.5)(1.5) = 2.25
AD = ½ (base)(height) = ½ (4.5-1.5)(6-3) = ½ (3)(3) = (1.5)(3) = 4.5
YA = 1/3 (3) = 1

YB = 1/2 (1) = 0,5

YC = 1/3 (3) = 1

YD = 3 + (1/3)(6-3) = 3 + (1/3)(3) = 3 + 1 = 4

Coordinate of the center of gravity at y axis :

Coordinate of the center of gravity about the x axis is 2 cm.

Q) Find the centre of gravity of the L-section shown below