Center of

Mass
 CENTER OF MASS
• The point of an object at which all the mass of the object is
thought to be concentrated.

• If the net external force on a system of particles is zero, then

(even if the velocity of individual objects changes), there is a
point associated with the distribution of objects that moves
with zero acceleration (constant velocity).
• This point is called the “center of mass” of the system. It is the
balancing point for the mass distribution.
 CENTER OF MASS

Diagram 1: Diagram 2:

Many of us tried to balance

objects like a ruler or a pencil.
CENTER OF MASS

Diagram 3:

Balancing a circular disc (like a

plate) using our fingertip.
 CENTER OF MASS

And if there are a system of particles ,

Center of Mass is actually the even in this case, the point where the
point where all the mass of entire mass of all particles or system is
a body rigid body is assumed to concentrated is called center of mass or
be concentrated. cm.
 CENTER OF MASS
And for objects which
have symmetrical and
regular shape, the center
of mass exist within in
the body.

Center of Mass is not only That doesn’t mean that CM will

discussed for rigid bodies exist only where mass exists. As
and not for non-rigid bodies in the case of circular rings, it
like water or air. exists at the center where there
is no mass at all.
 CENTER OF MASS
 The interesting thing about the center of mass of an object is that it is the only
point where Newton’s laws of motion are applicable perfectly.
 CENTER OF MASS
3.
1.

5.

2. 4.
CENTER OF MASS OF A RIGID
BODY
 CENTER OF MASS
 To determine the location or center of mass of two or more masses lying in
horizontal axis and whose location is relative to origin

Where:
m = given masses
x = given distances of the masses from the origin
 CENTER OF MASS
1st illustration

2nd illustration
 CENTER OF MASS
1. Consider two masses = 20kg and = 55 kg. If two masses are position in x-
axis as shown in the figure below, determine the center of mass.

14m Solution:
𝑚1 𝑥 1 +𝑚2 𝑥 2
5m 𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
𝑚1 +𝑚2
55kg ( 20 ) ( 14 ) + ( 55 ) (5)
20kg
𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
20+55
0 𝑚1
𝑚2 280 + 275
𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
75
Given: 555
m1 = 20kg x1 = 14m 𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
m2 = 55kg x2 = 5m
75
𝒙 𝒄𝒎=𝟕 . 𝟒 𝒎
 CENTER OF MASS
17m Solution:

𝑚1 𝑥 1 +𝑚2 𝑥 2 +𝑚3 𝑥 3
12m
𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
𝑚1+𝑚 2+𝑚 3
4m ( 4 ) ( 5 ) + ( 55 ) ( 12 ) + ( 10 ) (17 )
𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
55kg
4+ 55+10
18kg 10kg

0 𝑚3 20 + 660 +170
𝑚1
𝑚2 𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
69
Given:
850
= 4 = 5m 𝑥𝑐𝑚 =
= 55 = 12m 69
= 10kg = 17m
𝒙 𝒄𝒎=𝟏𝟐 . 𝟑 𝒎
 CENTER OF MASS
An 8kg masss is placed at y = 3m. Where should a 10 kg place along the y-axis
so that the center of mass will be located at y = 4.5m?

Given: Solution:
y 𝑚1 𝑦 1 +𝑚2 𝑦
m1 = 8kg y1 = 3m 𝑦 𝑐𝑚 =
m2 = 10kg x2 =? 𝑚1 +𝑚2
4.5

4.5
57 =
8kg
57 =
4.5 24 +10 𝑦 2
3m 10 𝑦 =
57 1 2 18
=
10 10 81 = 24
0 x
5.7 81 - 24 =
 CENTER OF MASS
 We can extend the formula to a system of particles. The equation can be
applied individually to each axis.

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
∑ 𝑚𝑖 𝑥𝑖 ∑ 𝑚𝑖 𝑦 𝑖 ∑ 𝑚𝑖 𝑧 𝑖
𝑖 =0 𝑖 =0
𝑋 𝑐𝑚 = 𝑌 𝑐𝑚 = 𝑍 𝑐𝑚 = 𝑖=0
𝑀 𝑀 𝑀

 We have to consider a differential mass and it’s position and then integrate it over the
entire length.

∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑚 ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑚
𝑍 𝑐𝑚 =
∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑚
𝑋 𝑐𝑚 = 𝑌 𝑐𝑚 =
𝑀 𝑀 𝑀
 CENTER OF MASS
SELF CHECK!

Locate the position of center of mass of the two point masses of 30kg and 45kg are at
5 m and 8 m from the origin on X-axis.

8m

m
5m

30kg 45kg

0
𝑚1 𝑚2
Center of Mass
vs. Geometric
Center
 CENTER OF MASS GEOMETRIC
Geometric centerCENTER
of a plane
Center of mass of a material figure is the arithmetic mean
body is a point that may be used position of all the points in the
for summary description of figure. Informally, it is the point
gravitational interactions. The at which a cutout of the shape
center of mass of any body can could be perfectly balanced on the
also determined by simple physical tip of a pin.
procedure.
CENTER OF MASS GEOMETRIC CENTER (CENTROID)
The point where the total weight It is referred to the centre of
of the body focuses upon gravity of uniform density
objects
It is denoted by g It is denoted by c
Center of mass in a uniform The centroid (geometric center)
gravitational field is the average is a point in a plane area in such
of all points, weighted by local a way that the moment of area
density or specific weight about any axis throughout that
point is 0
It is a physical behaviour of the t is a geometrical behaviour. It is
object, a point where all the the centre of measure of the
weight of an object is acting amount of geometry.