Center of Gravity and Centroid

Review and Summary

• The total weight of a body passes through a single point called

the center of gravity (or center of mass).

The coordinates of the center of gravity (XG, YG)

∑() ∑()
XG = ∑
, YG = ∑
(I)

• Centroid of an area (XC, YC) is given by:

∑() ∑()
Xc = ∑
, Yc = ∑
(II)

• The centroid represents the geometric center of the body. It

coincides with the center of mass (center of gravity) if the
material composing is uniform or homogeneous.

• The formulie (I), (II) represent the balance between the sum of
the moments of all parts of the system and the moment of the
resultant for the system.
Problems:
1) Locate the centroid of the plate shown
in figure. (Dimensions in m)

2) Determine the centroid of the shown

area. (Dimensions in cm)

3) The plate shown in figure consists

of :
• A triangle OAB of
2
ρ1=4kg/m
• The portion OFEDCB of
ρ2=2kg/m2
• A half circular plate (center
at O) is cut and removed
Determine the centroid of the
plate and the plate’s center of
mass. (Dimensions in m)
4) In the shown plate, if
ρ1=2kg/m2, ρ2=3kg/m2,
ρ3=1kg/m2, ρ4=4kg/m2 and
the half circular plate
(center at B) is cut and
removed, determine the
plate’s center of mass.
(Dimensions in m)

5) The figure shows a composite

plate consists of:
• ABCD of ρ1=2kg/m2
• BFEC of ρ2=4kg/m2
• A half circular part and a
triangular part are cut and
removed from the plate.
Find the coordinates of the
plate’s center of mass.
(Dimensions in m)

6) The lamina shown in figure

consists of two parts:
• A square (6x6m) of
ρ1=1kg/m2, from it a
triangle and half circle were
cut and removed
• A triangle (3x6m) of
ρ2=2kg/m2, a half circle of
center O was cut and
removed
Determine the center of mass of
the lamina.
7) The lamina shown in figure
consists of 3 parts:
• A square (6x6m) of
ρ1=2kg/m2
• A triangle (3x6m) of
ρ2=4kg/m2
• A quadrant of circle of area
of ρ3=3kg/m2
• A half circle area (center A)
and a circular area (center
B) are cut and removed
Determine the center of mass of
the remaining lamina.

8) In the shown lamina, if

ρ1=2kg/m2 and ρ2=4kg/m2 find
the lamina’s centroid and the
lamina’s center of mass.
(Dimensions in m)

9) In the shown plate, if

ρ1=2kg/m2 , ρ2=4kg/m2,
ρ3=6kg/m2, a half-circle
plate DEC and a half-circle
plate of center B were cut
and removed, determine
the center of mass of the
remaining plate.
(Dimensions in m)
10) In the shown
lamina, if ρ1=2kg/m2,
ρ2=4kg/m2 find the
lamina’s centroid and
its center of mass.
(Dimensions in m)

11) The shown lamina consists of:

• A square plate (6x6m) whose
density 2kg/m2
• A triangular plate (6x4m) whose
density 4kg/m2
• A semi-circular plate whose
density 7kg/m2
• A circular plate A of radius 1m
is removed and replaced by
another circular plate of the
same radius but of density
6kg/m2
Determine the centroid of the
lamina and its center of mass.