MEG 214

ENGINEERING MECHANICS I - STATICS

 LESSON 4

- Centroid.

- Centre of Gravity.

- Symmetry.
 Centroids/Centre of Gravity
• It has been established, since long, that every particle of a body is attracted by
the earth towards its centre and that this attraction exerted by the earth on a
rigid body could be represented by a single force W.
• This force of attraction, W, which is proportional to the mass of the particle,
acts vertically downwards and is known as weight of the body.
• The action of the earth on a rigid body should thus be represented by a large
number of small forces distributed over the entire body.
• As the distance between the different particles of a body and the centre of the
earth is the same, therefore these forces may be taken to act along parallel
lines.
• The plane figures (like triangle, quadrilateral, circle etc.) have only areas, but
no mass.
• The centre of area of such figures is known as centroid.
• The centroid of a line L or area A or volume V is the point located at its
geometric centre.
• All Lines, Areas and Volumes must of necessity posses a centroid but this
centroid may not necessarily lie within the body depending on its shape
• The centroid of a straight line for example is its midpoint. But the centroid of
a curved line will normally lie outside the line.
• The centre of gravity of a body is the point at which the resultant weight of
the body acts
• All bodies must of necessity posses centre of gravity but it may lie outside the
body depending on its shape
• The method of finding out the centroid of a figure is the same as that of
finding out the centre of gravity of a body.
• In many books, the authors also write centre of gravity as centroid and vice
versa.
 METHODS FOR CENTRE OF GRAVITY

The centre of gravity (or centroid) may be found by any of the

following methods:

1. By geometrical considerations
2. By moments
3. By graphical method

As a matter of fact, the graphical method is a tedious and cumbersome

method for finding out the centre of gravity of simple figures.
In this class, we shall discuss the procedure for finding out the centre of
gravity of simple figures by geometrical considerations and by
moments.
CENTRE OF GRAVITY BY GEOMETRICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The centre of gravity of simple figures may be found from the geometry of the
figure as given below:

1. The centre of gravity of uniform rod is at its middle point.

𝑙
2. The centre of gravity of a cube is at a distance of from every face (where l
2
is the length of each side).
𝑑
3. The centre of gravity of a sphere is at a distance of from every point (where
2
d is the diameter of the sphere).
4. The centre of gravity of a
rectangle (or a parallelogram) is
at the point, where its diagonals
meet each other.
It is also a middle point of the
length as well as the breadth of
the rectangle as shown
Rectangle
5. The centre of gravity of a triangle is
at the point, where the three medians
(a median is a line connecting the
vertex and middle point of the
opposite side) of the triangle meet as
shown Triangle
6. The centre of gravity of a
trapezium with parallel sides
ℎ
a and b is at a distance ×
3
𝑏+2𝑎
of measured form the
𝑏+𝑎
side b as shown in the figure
Trapezium
7. The centre of gravity of a
semicircle is at a distance of
4𝑟
from its base measured
3𝜋
along the vertical radius as
shown in the figure
Semicircle
8. The centre of gravity of a circular
sector making semi-vertical angle α is at a
2𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
distance of from the centre of the
3𝛼
sector measured along the central axis as
shown in the figure
Circular sector
9. The centre of gravity of a
3𝑟
hemisphere is at a distance of
8
from its base, measured along the
vertical radius as shown in the
figure
Hemisphere
10. The centre of gravity of right circular
ℎ
solid cone is at a distance of from its
4
base, measured along the vertical axis as
shown in the figure.

Right circular solid cone

11. The centre of gravity of a
segment of a sphere of height h is
3(2𝑟−ℎ)2
at a distance of from the
4(3𝑟−ℎ)
centre of the sphere measured
along the height as shown in the
figure Segment of a sphere
 CENTRE OF GRAVITY BY MOMENTS
The centre of gravity of a body may also be found out by moments as
discussed below:
Consider a body of mass M whose
centre of gravity is required to be
found out.
• Divide the body into small masses,
whose centres of gravity are
known as shown in Figure
Let 𝑚1 , 𝑚2 , 𝑚3 ....; etc. be the masses of
the particles and (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ), (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), (𝑥3 ,
𝑦3 ), ...... be the co-ordinates of the centres
of gravity from a fixed point O as shown
Let 𝑥ҧ and 𝑦ത be the co-ordinates of the centre of gravity of the body. From
the principle of moments, we know that

𝑀𝑥ҧ = 𝑚1 𝑥1 + 𝑚2 𝑥2 + 𝑚3 𝑥3 … … = σ 𝑚𝑥

σ 𝑚𝑥
or 𝑥ҧ =
𝑀

σ 𝑚𝑦
similarly 𝑦ത =
𝑀

where 𝑀 = 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 +…......
 AXIS OF REFERENCE
• The centre of gravity of a body is always calculated with reference to some
assumed axis known as axis of reference (or sometimes with reference to some
point of reference).
• The axis of reference, of plane figures, is generally taken as the lowest line of
the figure for calculating 𝑦ത and the left line of the figure for calculating 𝑥.ҧ

CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF PLANE FIGURES

• The plane geometrical figures (such as T-section, I-section, L-section etc.) have
only areas but no mass.
• The centre of gravity of such figures is found out in the same way as that of
solid bodies.
• The centre of area of such figures is known as centroid, and coincides with the
centre of gravity of the figure.
Let 𝑥ҧ and 𝑦ത be the co-ordinates of the centre of gravity with respect to
some axis of reference, then
𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑥3 + ⋯ .
𝑥ҧ =
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3
𝑎1 𝑦1 +𝑎2 𝑦2 +𝑎3 𝑦3 +⋯.
similarly, 𝑦ത =
𝑎1 +𝑎2 +𝑎3

where
• a1, a2, a3........ etc., are the areas into which the whole figure is
divided
• x1, x2, x3 ..... etc., are the respective co-ordinates of the areas a1, a2,
a3....... on X-X axis wrt same axis of reference.
• y1, y2, y3....... etc., are the respective co-ordinates of the areas a1, a2,
a3....... on Y-Y axis wrt same axis of the reference.
Note.
While using the above formula, x1, x2, x3 ..... or y1, y2, y3 or 𝑥ҧ and 𝑦ത must be
measured from the same axis of reference (or point of reference) and on the same
side of it.
However, if the figure is on both sides of the axis of reference, then the distances in
one direction are taken as positive and those in the opposite directions must be
taken as negative.

CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF SYMMETRICAL SECTIONS

• Sometimes, the given section, whose centre of gravity is required to be found
out, is symmetrical about X-X axis or Y-Y axis. In such cases, we have only to
calculate either 𝑥ҧ or 𝑦ത .
• This is due to the reason that the centre of gravity of the body will lie on the
axis of symmetry.
Example 1.
Find the centre of gravity
of a 100 mm × 150 mm ×
30 mm T-section.
Solution.
• Since the section is symmetrical
about Y-Y axis, bisecting the web,
therefore, its centre of gravity
will lie on this axis.
• We can divide the section into
two rectangles ABCH and DEFG
as shown above
• Let us assume the bottom of the
web FE to be the axis of
reference.
(i) Rectangle ABCH

(ii) Rectangle DEFG

The distance between centre of gravity of the section and the bottom of the flange
FE,
Example 2.
Find the centre of gravity of a channel
section 100 mm × 50 mm × 15 mm.
Solution.
• As the section is symmetrical
about X-X axis, therefore its
centre of gravity will lie on this
axis.
• Now divide the whole section
into three rectangles ABFJ,
EGKJ and CDHK as shown
above
• Let the face AC be the axis of
reference
(i) Rectangle ABFJ (ii) Rectangle EGKJ

(iii) Rectangle CDHK

The distance between the centre of gravity of the section and left face of
the section AC,
 CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF UNSYMMETRICAL SECTIONS
• Sometimes, the given section, whose centre of gravity is required to
be found out, is not symmetrical either about X-X axis or Y-Y axis.

• In such cases, we have to find out both the values of 𝑥ҧ and 𝑦ത

Example 3.
Find the centroid of an unequal angle
section 100 mm × 80 mm × 20 mm.
Solution.
• As the section is not symmetrical
about any axis, therefore we have to
find out the values of 𝑥ҧ and 𝑦ത for
the angle section.
• Split up the section into two
rectangles as shown in above.
• Let the left face of the vertical
section and bottom face of the
horizontal section be axes of
reference.
(i) Rectangle 1
(ii) Rectangle 2
The distance between centre of gravity of the section and left face,

Similarly, the distance between centre of gravity of the section and bottom face,
 CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF SOLID BODIES
• The centre of gravity of solid bodies (such as hemispheres, cylinders, right
circular solid cones etc.) are found out in the same way as that of plane figures.
• The only difference, between the plane figures and solid bodies, is that, in the
case of solid bodies, we calculate volumes instead of areas.
• The volumes of few solid bodies are given below :
1. Volume of cylinder = π × r2 × h
2𝜋
2. Volume of hemisphere = × 𝑟 3
3
𝜋 2
3. Volume of right circular solid cone = 𝑟 ℎ
3
where r = radius of the body, and
h = height of the body.
Note. Sometimes the densities of the two solids are different.
In such case, calculate the weights instead of volumes and the centre of gravity of
the body is found out as usual.
Example 4.
A solid body is formed by joining the
base of a right circular cone of height H
to the equal base of a right circular
cylinder of height h.
Calculate the distance of the centre of
mass of the solid from its plane face,
when H = 120 mm and h = 30 mm.
Solution.
• Since the body is symmetrical about
the vertical axis, therefore its centre
of gravity will lie on this axis as
shown.

• Let r be the radius of the cylinder

base in cm.

• Now let the base of the cylinder be

the axis of reference.
(i) Cylinder

(ii) Right circular cone

The distance between centre of gravity of the section and base
of the cylinder,

= 40.7 mm
 CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF SECTIONS WITH CUT OUT HOLES
The centre of gravity of such a section is found by considering the main
section, first as a complete one, and then deducting the area of the cut out
hole i.e., by subtracting the area of the cut out hole from the main
section.
Now substituting a2 (i.e., the area of the cut out hole) as negative, in the
general equation for the centre of gravity, we get
𝑎1 𝑥1 −𝑎2 𝑥2
𝑥ҧ = and
𝑎1 −𝑎2

𝑎1 𝑦1 −𝑎2 𝑦2
𝑦ത =
𝑎1 −𝑎2
Note. In case of circle, the section will be symmetrical along the line
joining the centres of the bigger and the cut out circle.
Example 5.
A square hole is punched out of
circular lamina, the diagonal of the
square being the radius of the circle
as shown.
Find the centre of gravity of the
remainder, if r is the radius of the
circle.
Solution.
As the section is symmetrical about X-X axis, therefore its centre of
gravity will lie on this axis.
Let A be the point of reference.
(i) Main circle

(ii) Cut out square

The distance between centre of gravity of the section and A,
Tutorial.
A semicircle of 90 mm radius
is cut out from a trapezium
as shown. Find the position
of the centre of gravity of the
figure.
Solution. As the section is symmetrical
about Y-Y axis, therefore its centre of
gravity will lie on this axis. Now consider
two portions of the figure viz., trapezium
ABCD and semicircle EFH.
Let base of the trapezium AB be the axis of
reference.
(i) Trapezium ABCD (ii) Semi Circle HFE
We know that distance between centre of gravity of the section and AB,