Lesson 15

Centroid
 Centroid of a Plane Area
The centroid C is the geometric center or balancing point of a region R. The centroid
of a mass is a point such that the first moment of the mass with respect to any plane is
the same as if the whole mass were concentrated at that point.
Let be the centroid of the region R and the centroid of a typical element of a region
R. For plane area,
If the region is bounded by two intersecting curves and the element is vertical,
and
On the other hand, if the horizontal element is taken,
and
Examples:
1. Find the centroid of the area under the curve the curve from to .
Solution:
Taking the element shown, and
The , hence, area of the region is

and
Therefore, the centroid is at .
2. Find the centroid of the area bounded by the and .
Solution:
The two curves intersect at and
and . Therefore, the centroid is at .
Exercises:
Sketch the region bounded by the given curves, then find the centroid of its area.
 Centroid of a Solid of Revolution

The solid of revolution is symmetric about the axis of revolution, hence, the centroid
must be on this axis. If the region R is revolved about the x-axis, the centroid is at
such that
and

If the region R is revolved about the y-axis, the centroid is at such that
and
Examples:
1. The first quadrant area bounded by is revolved about the x-axis. Find the centroid of
the solid generated.
Solution:
Taking the vertical element,

and,
Therefore, the centroid of the solid is at .
2. Find the centroid of the solid generated in example 1 by using a horizontal element
revolved about the x-axis.
Solution:
Taking the horizontal element,

and,
Therefore, the centroid of the solid is at .
Exercises:
Find the centroid of the solid generated by revolving the region about the indicated
axis the area bounded by the given curves.

1. about the y-axis

2. about
 Theorem of Pappus
The Theorem of Pappus gives an important relationship between the centroid of a
plane region R and the volume of the solid generated when the region is revolved
about a line.

Theorem: If is a bounded plane region and is a line that lies in the plane of such
that is entirely in one side of then the volume of the solid formed by revolving
about is
Example:

1. Use Pappus’ Theorem to find the volume of the torus generated by revolving
a circular region of radius about a line at a distance (greater than ) from
center of the circle.
Solution:
By symmetry, the centroid of the circular region
is its center. Thus,

From Pappus’ Theorem, the volume of the

torus is
2. Use Pappus’ Theorem to find the centroid of a uniform semicircle of radius .
Solution:
Let be the distance between the centroid and the
axis of revolution. When the semicircle makes the full
the path traversed by the centroid is

The solid of revolution is a sphere whose volume is

The area of the semicircle is .

By Pappus Theorem,

Assuming that the axis of revolution is the y-axis and the center of the circle
with radius is at the origin, then the centroid is at .