Republic of the Philippines

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

City of Ilagan, Isabela

Title:

Chapter 6 – Centroids and Center of Gravity

Overview/Introduction
The center of gravity is a point where whole the weight of the body act
is called center of gravity.
As we know that every particle of a body is attracted by the earth
towards its center with a magnitude of the weight of the body. As the distance
between the different particles of a body and the center of the earth is the
same, therefore these forces may be taken to act along parallel lines.
A point may be found out in a body, through which the resultant of all
such parallel forces acts. This point, through which the whole resultant (weight
of the body acts, irrespective of its position, is known as center of gravity
(briefly written as C.G). It may be noted that everybody has one and only one
center of gravity.

Learning Outcome/Objective

At the end of this chapter, students are expected to be able to:

1. Understand the concept of center of gravity;
2. Understand the different methods in obtaining the center of gravity of
different shapes and solids; and
3. Solve problems related to center of gravity of flat plates, simple figures
and solid bodies using different methods.

Learning Content/Topic

Lesson 6-1 – Center of gravity of a two-dimensional body; flat plate

Centroid
The plane figures (like triangle, quadrilateral, circle etc.) have only
areas, but no mass. The center of area of such figures is known as Centroid.
The method of finding out the Centroid of a figure is the same as that of
finding out the center of gravity of a body.

Axis of reference
The center of gravity of a body is always calculated with referrer to
some assumed axis known as axis of reference. The axis of reference, of
 plane figures, is generally taken as the lowest line of the figure for calculating
y and the left line of the figure for calculating x.

Lesson 6-2- Methods for center of gravity of simple figures

The center of gravity (or Centroid) may be found out by any one of the
following methods
1. By geometrical considerations
2. By moments method
3. By graphical method

1. Center of Gravity by Geometrical Considerations

The center of gravity of simple figures may be found out from the geometry of
the figure.

For each two-dimensional shape below, the area and the centroid coordinates are given:

Shape Figure x Area

b h
2 2

rectangle

triangle
Isosceles-triangle

Right-triangular ar
ea

Circle

Quarter-circle
Semi-circle

Circular sector

Circular segment

The points on the circle

Quarter-circular ar ❑ 2 2 2
c ❑ x + y =r and in the first
quadrant

The points on the circle

Semicircular arc ❑ 2 2 2
❑ x + y =r and above the
x-axis

The points on the curve (in

Arc of circle
polar coordinates) ρ=r ,
from θ=−α ¿ θ=α
elliptical area

Quarter-elliptical
area

Semielliptical area

The area between the curve

Parabolic area h 2
y y= 2
x and the line y=h
b
Semi parabolic
area

The area between

the curve and
the axis, from to

The area between the curve

h 2
Parabolic spandrel y= 2
x and the axis, from
b
x=0 to x=b
The area between the curve
h n
General spandrel y= n
x and the axis, from
b
x=0 to x=b

3-D Centroids

For each three-dimensional body below, the volume and the centroid coordinates
( x , y ) ∧z are given:

Shape Figure Volume

a, b = the sides of the

cuboid's base
Cuboid
c = the third side of the
cuboid

a, b = the sides of the

Right-
base
rectangular pyra
h = the distance is from
mid
base to the apex
 see
b = the base side of the
above
prism's triangular base,
General for
h = the height of the
triangular prism general
prism's triangular base
triangul
L = the length of the prism
ar base

b = the base side of the

prism's triangular base,
Isosceles
h = the height of the
triangular prism
prism's triangular base
L = the length of the prism

b = the base side of the

prism's triangular base,
Right-triangular h = the perpendicular side
prism of the prism's triangular
base
L = the length of the prism

r = the radius of the

Right cylinder
0 0
circular cylinder h = the height of the
cylinder

r = the radius of the

Right
cone's base
circular solid 0 0
h = the distance is from
cone
base to the apex

r = the radius of the

Solid sphere 0 0 0
sphere

Solid hemispher r = the radius of the

0 0
e hemisphere

Solid semi- a = the radius of the base

ellipsoid of circle
0 0
revolution h = the height of the semi-
around z-axis ellipsoid from the base
circle's center to the edge
 a = the radius of the base
Solid paraboloid circle
of revolution h = the height of the 0 0
around z-axe paraboloid from the base
circle's center to the edge

a, b, c = the principal
Solid ellipsoid 0 0 0
semi-axes of the ellipsoid

a, b = the principal semi-

Solid semi- axes of the base ellipse
ellipsoid around c = the principal z-semi- 0 0
z-axe axe from the center of
base ellipse

a, b = the principal semi-

axes of the base ellipse
Solid paraboloid
c = the principal z-semi- 0 0
around z-axe
axe from the center of
base ellipse

CENTER OF GRAVITY BY MOMENTS

The center of gravity of a body may also be found out by moments as discussed
below. Consider a body of mass M whose center of gravity is required to be found
out. Now divide the body into small strips of masses whose centers of gravity are
known as shown in figure:

X1
X2
X3

x x
❑

Let
m1, m2, m3………= mass of strips 1, 2, 3, ….
 x1, x2, x3…………= the corresponding perpendicular distance or the center of
gravity of strips from y-axis

According to principle of moment:

M x =m1 x 1+m2 x 2 +m3 x 3
M x =∑ mx

x=
∑ mx ------------------ 1
M

Similarly,
y=
∑ my ------------------ 2
M

The plane geometrical figures (such as T-section, 1-section, L-section etc.)

have only areas but no mass the center of gravity of such figures is found out in the
same way as that of solid bodies. Therefore the above two equations will become:
x=
∑ ax
A
Or
a1 x 1+ a2 x 2 +a3 x 3 …
x=
a1 +a 2+ a3 …

y=
∑ ay
A
Or
a1 y 1+ a2 y 2+ a3 y 3 …
x=
a1 +a2 + a3 …

Example:

1. Find the center of gravity of a 100 mm x150 mm x 30 mm T-section as shown in

the figure:
100 mm

2 30 mm

150 mm
1

30 mm

Solution:
 Area (a) mm2 Distance (y) mm ay
1 a1 = 30(150-30) = 3600 (150-30)/2 = 60 3600(60)=216000
2 a2 = 30(100) = 3000 150-15=135 3000(135)=405000
∑ ¿6600 ∑ ¿621000

Put in the working formula:

y=
∑ ay =
621000
=94.091 mm
A 6600

The center of gravity is at 94.091 mm from the bottom, also x can be located by
inspection since the section given is symmetrical.

2. Find the center of gravity of a channel section 100mmx50mmx15mm as shown:

100 mm

15 mm

50 mm

Solution 1:

100 mm 2

1 15 mm

50 mm
 Area (a) mm2 Distance (x) mm ax
1 a1 =50(15) = 750 50/2 = 25 750(25)=18750
2 a2 = (100-30)(15) = 1050 15/2=7.5 1050(7.5)=7875
3 a1 =50(15) = 750 50/2 = 25 750(25)=18750
∑ ¿2550 ∑ ¿ 45375
Put in the working formula:

x=
∑ ax =
45375
=17.794 mm
A 2550

The center of gravity is at17.794 mm from the right, also y can be located by
inspection since the section given is symmetrical.

Solution 2:

1 2
100 mm

15 mm

50 mm

Area (a) mm2 Distance (x) mm ax

1 a1 =50(100) = 5000 50/2 = 25 5000(25)=125000
2 a2 = -(50-15)(100-30)= -2450 15+(50-15)/2=32.5 -2450(32.5)=-79625
∑ ¿2550 ∑ ¿ 45375
Put in the working formula:

x=
∑ ax =
45375
=17.794 mm
A 2550
Lesson 6-3 – CENTER OF GRAVITY OF UNSYMMETRICAL SECTIONS

Sometimes, the given section, whose center of gravity is required to be found

out, is not symmetrical either about x-axis or y-axis. In such cases, we have to find
out both the values of center of gravity of x and y which means with reference to x
axis and y axis.

Example:
Find the centroid of an unequal angle section 100 mm x 80 mm x 20mm.

100 mm

20 mm

80 mm

Solution:

100 mm 1

2 20 mm

80 mm

Area (a) mm2 Distance (x) mm ax

1 a1 =20(100) = 2000 20/2=10 2000(10)=20000
2 a2 = (80-20)(20)= 1200 20+(80-20)/2=50 1200(50)=60000
∑ ¿3200 ∑ ¿ 80000

x=
∑ ax =
80000
=25 mm from the right
A 3200

Area (a) mm2 Distance (y) mm ay

1 a1 =20(100) = 2000 100/2=50 2000(50)=100000
2 a2 = (80-20)(20)= 1200 20/2=10 1200(10)=12000
∑ ¿3200 ∑ ¿112000

y=
∑ ay =
112000
=35 mm from the bottom
A 3200
Lesson 6-4 – CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SOLID BODIES

The center of gravity of solid bodies (such as hemisphere, cylinder, right

circular solid cone etc) is found out in the same way as that of the plane figures. The
only difference between the plane and solid bodies is that in the case of solid bodies
we calculate volumes instead of areas

EXAMPLE
A solid body formed by joining the base of a right circular cone of height H to
the equal base of right circular cylinder of height h. Calculate the distance of the
center of gravity of the solid from its plane face when H = 120 mm and h = 30 mm

Solution:

Consider the cylinder with h=30 mm and radius r:

2 2
Volume=π r h=30 π r
c.g of cylinder = y1 = 30/2 = 15 mm

Now consider the circular cone of H=120 mm and radius r:

2 2
π r H 120 π r 2
Volume= = =40 π r
3 3
c.g of cone=30+120/4 = 60 mm from the bottom of composite
solids

Put the values in the formulas:

y=
∑ vy = v 1 y 1+ v 2 y 2+ v 3 y 3 …
V V
2 2
30 π r ( 15 ) + 40 π r (60)
y= =¿ 40.714 mm
30 π r 2 +40 π r 2
Lesson 6-5 – CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SECTIONS WITH CUT OUT HOLES

The center of gravity of such a section is found out by considering the main
section; first as a complete one and then deducting the area of the cut out hole that
is taking the area of the cut out hole as negative. Now substituting the area of the cut
out hole as negative, in the general equation for the center of gravity, so the equation
will become:

a 1 x 1−a2 x 2…
x=
a 1−a 2
Or

a 1 y 1−a 2 y 2 …
y=
a 1−a 2

Example:

A semicircle of 90 mm radius is cut out from a trapezoid as shown in figure, find the
position of the center of gravity.
a=200 mm

h=120 mm

r=90 mm

b=300 mm

Solution:

a+b 200+300
Areaof trapezoid = h= ( 120 ) = 30000
2 2

c . g of trapezoid = ()
b+2 a h 300+2 ( 200 ) 120
b +a 3
=
300+200 3 ( )
=56

2
π r 2 π ( 90 )
Areaof semicircle= = =¿ 4050 π
2 2
4r
c . g of semicircle= =38.197
3π

Put the values in the working formula:

 30000(56)−4050 π (3.197)
y= =69.111 mm
30000−4050 π

Teaching and Learning Activities

Solve the following:

1. Find the center of gravity of a semicircular section having outer and inner
diameters of 200 mm and 160 mm respectively as shown in figure:

Ans: 57.5 mm

2. A body consists of a right circular solid cone of height 40 mm and radius 30 mm

placed on a solid hemisphere of radius 30 mm of the same material find the position
of the center of gravity of the body

Ans: 28.4 mm

Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) adapted

Online (asynchronous)
TelEducation moodle, Facebook messenger, google classroom,
zoom, google meet, etc.
 Remote (asynchronous)
module, activities, problems sets, etc.

Assessment Task

References
1. Engineering Mechanics by Ferdinand L. Singer
2. Breer, Ferdinand P. and Johnston, E. Russel Jr., Mechanics for Engineers,
McGraw Hill, latest edition
3. Hibbeler, R.C., Engineering Mechanics, Statics, , Amazon, 14th Edition
4. Other Physics and Engineering Mechanics Books
5. Mathematics and Allied Science Reviewers’ Books

Online:
http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=125330