Moments and Centers of Mass

11/8/2016
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Moments and Centers of Mass

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This section shows how to calculate the masses and moments of two- and three- dimensional objects in Cartesian (x, y, z) coordinates.
Mass
We saw before that the double integral over a region of the constant function 1 measures the area of the region. If the region has uniform density 1, then the mass is the
density times the area which equals the area. What if the density is not constant. Suppose that the density is given by the continuous function
Density = (x, y)
(1.1)
In this case we can cut the region into tiny rectangles where the density is approximately constant. The area of mass rectangle is given by
Mass = (Density)(Area) = (x, y)xy
You probably know where this is going. If we add all to masses together and take the limit as the rectangle size goes to zero, we get a double integral.
De nition: Mass
Let (x, y) be the density of a lamina ( at sheet) R at the point (x, y) . Then the total mass of the lamina is the double integral
(1.2)
Mass = (x, y) dydx
Three-Dimensional Solids
We de ne (x, y, z) to be the density (mass per unit volume) of an object occupying a region D in space. The integral over D gives us the mass of the object. To see
why,imaginepartitioning theobject intonmass elements. And when summing these mass elements up, it is the total mass.
n
M = lim mk = lim (x k , yk , z k )Vk =

n
k=1
(x, y, z)dV
(1.3)
k=1
The integral of (x, y, z) gives us the mass of the object.

b
M =
dV
(1.4)
where(x, y, z) is the densityatpoint (x, y, z) .
Two-Dimensional Plates
http://math.libretexts.org/Core/Calculus/Vector_Calculus/Multiple_Integrals/Moments_and_Centers_of_Mass
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b
dA
(1.5)
(x, y) = x + y
(1.6)
M =
a
Example 1
A rectangular metal sheet with 2 < x < 5 and 0 < y < 3 has density function
Set up the double integral that gives the mass of the metal sheet.
Solution
We just have the integral
5
(1.7)
(x + y) dydx
Moments and Center of Mass

We have seen in rst year calculus that the moments about an axis are de ned by the product of the mass times the distance from the axis.
Mx = (Mass)(y)
My = (Mass)(x)
If we have a region R with density function (x, y) , then we do the usual thing. We cut the region into small rectangles for which the density is constant and add up the
moments of each of these rectangles. Then take the limit as the rectangle size approaches zero. This will give us the total moment.
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De nition: Moments of Mass and Center of Mass
in
Suppose
a continuous
function on
a lamina
. Then themoments
of massIntegrals
are
is
Core
density
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(x, y)
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1
Mx =
k(x
+ y )y dydx
(1.8)
and
1
My =
k(x
+ y )x dydx
(1.9)
and if M is the mass of the lamina, then the center of mass is

(x
, y
) = (
My
Mx
(1.10)
Example 2
Set up the integrals that give the center of mass of the rectangle with vertices (0, 0), (1, 0), (1, 1), and (0, 1) and density function proportional to the square of the
distance from the origin. Use a calculator or computer to evaluate these integrals.
Solution
The mass is given by
1
M =
k(x
2k
+ y ) dydx =
(1.11)
The moments are given by (de nition 2a):

1
Mx =
k(x
+ y )y dydx
(1.12)
and
1
My =
k(x
+ y )x dydx
(1.13)
These evaluate to
5k
Mx =
(1.14)
12
and
5k
My =
(1.15)
12
It should not be a surprise that the moments are equal since there is complete symmetry with respect to x and y. Finally, we divide to get
5
(x, y) = (
This tells us that the metal plate will balance perfectly if we place a pin at ( 58 ,
5
8
5
,
(1.16)
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Moments of Inertia
We often call Mx and My the rst moments. They have rst powers of y and x in their de nitions and help nd the center of mass. We de ne the moments of inertia (or
second moments) by introducing squares of y and x in their de nitions. The moments of inertia help us nd the kinetic energy in rotational motion. Below is the de nition
De nition: Moments of Intertia
Suppose that (x, y) is a continuous density function on a lamina R. Then the moments of inertia are
Ix =
(x, y)y
dydx
(1.17)
dydx
(1.18)
Iy =
(x, y)x
Exercise
Find the moments of inertia for the previous square metal plate.
First moment
The rst moment of a 3-D solid region D about a coordinate plane is de ned as the triple integral over
multiplied by the density of the solid at that point. First moments about the coordinate planes:
of the distance from a point
(x, y, z)
in
to the plane
M (yz) =
x dV
(1.19)
y dV
(1.20)
M (xz) =
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b
M (xy) =
z dV
(1.21)
The rst moment about the y-axis is the double integral over the region R forming the 2-D plate of the distance from the axis multiplied by the density.
b
M (y) =
x dV
(1.22)
y dV
(1.23)
M (x) =
a
Center of mass
We de ned center of mass located in x
, y
, z
. Then it is found from the rst moments:
M (y)
(1.24)
=
x
M
M (x)
=
y
(1.25)
M
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11/8/2016

Mass = (x, y) dydx

M = lim mk = lim (x k , yk , z k )Vk =

The integral of (x, y, z) gives us the mass of the object.

where(x, y, z) is the densityatpoint (x, y, z) .

Moments and Center of Mass

How can we help you?

De nition: Moments of Mass and Center of Mass

and if M is the mass of the lamina, then the center of mass is

The moments are given by (de nition 2a):

of the distance from a point

How can we help you?

Double and Iterated Integrals Over Rectangles

Double Integrals in Polar Form

Double Integrals Over General Regions

Copyright 2016 Mathematics LibreTexts

How can we help you?

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