BCEI

EGR 2214
EXPERIMENT 4

MEMBER: 1. Tan Xin Kai (1CA1) i21020532

2.Cheyenne Loh (1CA1) i21020533
3. Nsenzi Salasini (1CA1)i22021688
4. Yashvin Seebaruth (1CA1)i21021537

Instructor’s name: Lim Jin Wei

 EXPERIMENT 4
Title :
Determination of the position of the centre of gravity of several different
shapes by experiment and to confirm with values derived from calculus.

Aim :
To determine the position of the centre of gravity of several different
shapes by experiment and to confirm with values derived from calculus.

Apparatus :
Apparatus Model LS-1239, circle flat shapes, parabolic flat shapes,
triangle flat shapes, L-shape flat shapes, T-shape flat shapes,weighted
cord.
Introduction & Theory:
Theoretically, an object's centre of gravity is where all of the weight of
the thing is believed to be concentrated. Knowing the centre of gravity is
crucial because it may be used to forecast how a moving object will
behave when subjected to the effects of gravity. In designing immobile
constructions like buildings and bridges, it is also helpful.

The centre of gravity and the centre of mass are the same in a
gravitational field that is uniform. Yet, the two points are not always in
agreement. For example, the Moon's geometric centre and centre of
mass are relatively near to each other. The larger gravitational attraction
on the near side of the Moon, however, causes its centre of gravity to be
slightly more Earthward.

The centre of gravity in an item with a symmetrical shape and made of

homogeneous material could coincide with the body's geometric centre.
The centre of gravity of an asymmetrical item, on the other hand, is likely
to be some distance from the geometric centre if it is made of different
materials with varying masses. The centre of gravity is located away from
the actual material in hollow or asymmetrical bodies.

The plate's centre of gravity can be found by suspending the plate from
point A in the figure above and then attaching the lead to point C. When
the plate is suspended from A, the line AD is vertical, and when hanging
from C, the line CE is vertical. The plate's centre of gravity is located
where AD and CE meet. The centre of gravity of any hung object is
located immediately underneath that point.

For simple shapes, the centre of gravity can be determined in the above
way, but for a more accurate answer the table 1 is used.
Table 1: Centroids of Common Shapes of Areas
Procedure :
Determining the center of gravity of different shapes is an essential
concept in physics. Here is a general experiment for determining the
center of gravity of a circle, a parabolic, a triangle, an L shape, and a T
shape:

For the circle:

● Draw a straight line across the wooden plank using the ruler.
● Place the circle on the wooden plank, centered on the line, and
mark its position using the pencil.
● Hang the plumb line from the reference line, and mark the
position of the plumb line on the wooden plank.
● Repeat the procedure at different positions around the circle.
● Calculate the center of gravity by taking the average of the
positions.

For the parabolic:

● Draw a straight line across the wooden plank using the ruler.
● Place the parabolic shape on the wooden plank, centered on the
line, and mark its position using the pencil.
● Hang the plumb line from the reference line, and mark the
position of the plumb line on the wooden plank.
● Repeat the procedure at different positions along the curve of the
parabolic.
● Calculate the center of gravity by taking the average of the
positions.
For the triangle:
● Draw a straight line across the wooden plank using the ruler.
● Place the triangle on the wooden plank, centered on the line, and
mark its position using the pencil.
● Hang the plumb line from the reference line, and mark the
position of the plumb line on the wooden plank.
● Repeat the procedure at different positions on each side of the
triangle.
● Calculate the center of gravity by taking the average of the
positions.

For the L shape:

● Draw a straight line across the wooden plank using the ruler.
● Place the L shape on the wooden plank, centered on the line, and
mark its position using the pencil.
● Hang the plumb line from the reference line, and mark the
position of the plumb line on the wooden plank.
● Repeat the procedure at different positions around each arm of
the L shape.
● Calculate the center of gravity by taking the average of the
positions.

For the T shape:

● Draw a straight line across the wooden plank using the ruler.
● Place the T shape on the wooden plank, centered on the line, and
mark its position using the pencil.
● Hang the plumb line from the reference line, and mark the
position of the plumb line on the wooden plank.
● Repeat the procedure at different positions on each arm of the T
shape.
● Calculate the center of gravity by taking the average of the
positions.
In summary, determining the center of gravity of different shapes can be
done experimentally by hanging a plumb line from a reference line,
marking the position of the object on a wooden plank, measuring the
distance and angle between the reference line and the mark, and
calculating the center of gravity using the formula. The procedure needs
to be repeated at different positions around the shape to increase
accuracy.
Results:
a) Circle

b) Parabolic
c) Triangle

d) L-shape
e) T-shape
Calculation & Discussion :
a) Circle

Experiment value
centroid point is 15.20cm
Theory value
center of the circle which is r1=r2=15.20cm
% error
15.20−15.20
% error = 15.20
= 0%

The center of mass of the circle is obtained from experiments to

be 15.20 cm. From a theoretical point of view, it is known that the center
of mass of the circle coincides with the center point of the circle. So, use
the straight line to find the center of the circle. That is, a direct half r1 is
equal to r2 is equal to 15.20cm. So the centroid of the % of error of the
circle is 0%. This indicates that the experiment to find the centroid of the
circle was successful.
b) Parabolic

Experiment value
centroid point is 6.50cm
Theory value
Base on table 1.
The x axis point is a reference point, so x axis point equals 0.
4𝑟
𝑦= 3π
4(20)
= 3π
= 8.49cm
coordinate of centroid point is 8.49cm

% error
8.49−6.50
% error = 8.49
= 23.44%
 From experiments it was found that the parabolic has a centroid of
6.50 cm. From table1, knowing that the centroid of a parabolic needs to
use the following formula to find the centroid of the y-axis.
4𝑟
𝑦= 3π
The measured parabolic radium is 20.00cm, and the centroid of
the parabolic y-axis is 8.49cm through the formula. Since x is set as the
reference point, the centroid of the x-axis is equal to 0. It is known that
there is a 23.44% error between the experimental 𝑦 and the theoretical
𝑦.
The experimental value will differ from the theoretical value
because of some factors such as parallax error. To avoid the parallax
error, our eyes must be perpendicular to the reading of the scale of the
meter rule. The weight line will be a distance away from the paper
during the experiment, which makes it impossible to accurately draw the
plumb line on the paper. Besides, there may also be random errors due
to environmental influences on the weighted cord such as wind.
c) Triangle

Experiment value
centroid point is 9.00cm
Theory value
Base on table 1.
The x axis point is a reference point, so x axis point equals 0.
1
In y axis is 3
of the height of the triangle.
ℎ
𝑦= 3

27.5
= 3
= 9.17 cm
coordinate of centroid point is 9.17cm
% error
9.17−9.00
% error = 9.17
= 1.85%
 The center of mass of the triangle is found to be 9.00 cm from
experiments. From a theoretical point of view, know that the centroid of
the triangle y axis is one-third of the height. The measurement shows
that the height of the triangle is 27.50cm, and the center of mass of the
y axis of the triangle is 9.17cm through the formula. Since 𝑥 is set to a
reference point, the centroid of the x axis is equal to 0. Know that there
is a 1.85% error between the experimental 𝑦 and the theoretical 𝑦.
The experimental value will differ from the theoretical value
because of some factors such as parallax error. To avoid the parallax
error, our eyes must be perpendicular to the reading of the scale of the
meter rule. The weight line will be a distance away from the paper
during the experiment, which makes it impossible to accurately draw the
plumb line on the paper. Besides, there may also be random errors due
to environmental influences on the weighted cord such as wind.
d) L-shape

Experiment value
centroid point (x,y)=(13.25cm,8.00cm)
Theory value

2 3 3
A(𝑐𝑚 ) 𝑥(𝑐𝑚) 𝑦(𝑐𝑚) A𝑥(𝑐𝑚 ) A𝑦(𝑐𝑚 )

1 136.29 3.85 16.55 524.72 2255.60

2 274.12 17.80 3.85 4879.34 1055.36

Σ 410.41 5404.05 3310.96

Σ𝐴𝑥 Σ𝐴𝑦
𝑥= 𝑦=
Σ𝐴 Σ𝐴
5404.05 3310.96
= 410.41
= 410.41

= 13.17cm = 8.07cm
coordinate of centroid point (13.17cm, 8.07cm)
% error
13.25−13.17
% error of 𝑥 = 13.17
= 0.61%
8.07−8.00
% error of 𝑦 = 8.07
= 0.87%

L-shape finds the centroid using composite parts. First, the body or
object is divided into a finite number of compound parts with simpler
shapes. Next, coordinate axes are established to determine the
coordinates of the center of gravity or center of mass of each part. First
find the area of each compound part and the 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates of the
center point of the compound part. Then, find A𝑥 and A𝑦. Bring in the
formula to find the centroid.
Σ𝐴𝑥 Σ𝐴𝑦
𝑥= Σ𝐴
and 𝑦 = Σ𝐴

Finally, the centroid of the theoretical L-shape is found to be

(13.17cm, 8.07cm). The centroid of the L-shape obtained from the
experiment is (13.25cm, 8.00cm). There will be % of error here, 0.61% in
𝑥 and 0.87% in 𝑦.
The experimental value will differ from the theoretical value
because of some factors such as parallax error. To avoid the parallax
error, our eyes must be perpendicular to the reading of the scale of the
meter rule. The weight line will be a distance away from the paper
during the experiment, which makes it impossible to accurately draw the
plumb line on the paper. Besides, there may also be random errors due
to environmental influences on the weighted cord such as wind.
e) T-shape

Experiment value
centroid point is (x,y)=(13.70cm,20.50cm)
Theory value

2 3 3
A(𝑐𝑚 ) 𝑥(𝑐𝑚) 𝑦(𝑐𝑚) A𝑥(𝑐𝑚 ) A𝑦(𝑐𝑚 )

1 145.60 14 27.8 2038.40 4047.68

2 131.04 14 12.6 1834.56 1651.10

Σ 276.64 3872.96 5698.78

Σ𝐴𝑥
𝑥= = 14.00cm
Σ𝐴
Σ𝐴𝑦
3872.96 𝑦=
= Σ𝐴
276.64
 5698.78 = 20.60cm
= 276.64

coordinate of centroid point (14.00cm, 20.60cm)

% error
14.00−13.70
% error of 𝑥 = 14.00
= 2.14%
20.60−20.50
% error of 𝑦 = 20.60
= 0.49%

T-shape finds the centroid using composite parts. First, the body or
object is divided into a finite number of compound parts with simpler
shapes. Next, coordinate axes are established to determine the
coordinates of the center of gravity or center of mass of each part. First
find the area of each compound part and the 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates of the
center point of the compound part. Then, find A𝑥 and A𝑦. Bring in the
formula to find the centroid.
Σ𝐴𝑥 Σ𝐴𝑦
𝑥= Σ𝐴
and 𝑦 = Σ𝐴

Finally, the centroid of the theoretical L-shape is found to be

(14.00cm, 20.60cm). The centroid of the L-shape obtained from the
experiment is (13.70cm,20.50cm). There will be % of error here, 2.14% in
𝑥 and 0.49% in 𝑦.
The experimental value will differ from the theoretical value
because of some factors such as parallax error. To avoid the parallax
error, our eyes must be perpendicular to the reading of the scale of the
meter rule. The weight line will be a distance away from the paper
during the experiment, which makes it impossible to accurately draw the
plumb line on the paper. Besides, there may also be random errors due
to environmental influences on the weighted cord such as wind.
Conclusion :
Through this experiment, we know the position of the centre of
gravity of several different shapes by experiment. Besides, we learned
about using values derived to calculate the centre of gravity.
The centroid point of the circle is 15.20cm with 0% of errors.
Meaning this experiment is successful. The centroid point of the
parabolic is 6.50cm with 23.44% of errors. The centroid point of the
triangle is 9.00cm with 1.85% of errors. The centroid point of the L-shape
is (13.25cm,8.00cm) with 0.61% of errors in 𝑥, 0.87% of errors in 𝑦. The
centroid point of the T-shape is (13.70cm,20.50cm) with 2.14% of errors
in 𝑥, 0.49% of errors in 𝑦.

References :
- EGR 2214 Lab manual. (n.d.).
- Centroids. (n.d.). Available on:
https://faculty.mercer.edu/jenkins_he/documents/Centroids.pdf
- Centre of Gravity. (n.d.). Available online:
Centre of Gravity - Detailed Explanation, Calculation, FAQs
(byjus.com)