Centers of Gravity and

Centroids
Composite Bodies
A composite body consists of a finite number of
connected simpler shaped bodies. Such a body can
often be divided into its parts provided that the weight
and location of the center of gravity of each of these
parts are known, as we did in Figure.
x
0

x1
W1
x2 W2

x3
W3
x
0

x1
W1
x2 W2

x3
W3

x
0

xW
W
Applying the equivalence conditions
For the translation effect, we have
W = W1 + W2 + W3 = W i
i
Now for the rotational effect, we have
M = M1 + M2 + M3
Wx W  W 1 x 1  W 2 x 2  W 3x 3

x
0

x1
W1
x2 W2

x3
W3
W xW  W 1 x 1  W 2 x 2  W 3 x 3

From this relation we can write

W1 x 1  W 2 x 2  W 3 x 3
xW 
W
W x i i
xW  i

W i
i

in a similar way for 3D problems

  x W
i i
yW   y W i i
zW   z W
i i

W
xW
W i W i i
Centers of Mass W=gm

xm   x m i i
ym   y m
i i
zm   z m
i i

m i m i m i

Centroids of Volume m V ,

xV   x V
i i
yV   y V
i i
zV   z V
i i
,

V i V i V i
Centroids of Area V=hA

  x A
i i
  y Ai i  z A
xA yA  i i

A i A i
zA
A i
,

Centroids of Lines A = w L, ,,

 x i Li   y L i i zL   z L i i
xL 
L
yL
L i L i i
The Concept of Symmetry
In cases where the shape has an axis (plane) of
symmetry, the centroid of the shape will lie along
that axis (plane).

A body is said to be symmetric with

respect to an axis BB' if for every
point p of the body there exists a
point p' on the body such that the
line pp' is perpendicular to the
symmetry axis BB' and is divided
into two equal parts by that axis.
Centroids of area element

Rectangular area
y
Circular area
1
A bh
2
h
C
h
3 x
O
b
3
b
Semicircular area
Triangular area
Some important notes:
 First of all, you are dealing with coordinates of points.
This implies the following important remarks:
1. A coordinate system with a reference point should be
included in the problem.
2. The second remark is that xi, yi, and zi are coordinates
which means they are signed numbers.
3. Also the result you obtain for the center of gravity or
centroids are referenced to the same coordinate system
and reference point.
 The second step for you should be checking the symmetry
of the body. This can save you a lot of work and hence a
lot of time.
For the plane area shown in Figure,
Example 1 determine the location of the centroid.
Part (1): The rectangular area.
A1  (120)(80)  9600 mm 2
x1  60 mm
y1  40 mm

Part (2): The triangular area.

1
A2  (120)(60)  3600 mm 2
2
1
x2  (120)  40 mm
3
1
y2   (60)  20 mm
3
Part (3): The simicircular area.
1
A3  ( )(60) 2  5655 mm 2
2
x3  60 mm
4(60)
y3  80   105.46 mm
3
Part (4): The circular area is a hole.

A4  ( )(40)  5027 mm
2 2

x4  60 mm
y 4  80 mm
segment Ai xi yi xi Ai yi Ai
(1) 9600 60 40 576000 384000
(2) 3600 40 -20 144000 -72000
(3) 5655 60 105.46 339300 596400
(4) -5027 60 80 -301600 -402200
.

 13828 757700 506200

x
 xi Ai 757700
  54.8 mm y
 yi Ai 506200
  36.6 mm
 Ai 13828  Ai 13828
So, the centroid has the coordinates C ( 54.8, 36.6) mm
Example 2 Locate the centroid of the plate area
shown in Figure.
Part (1): The triangular area.
1
A1  (3)(3)  4.5 ft 2
2
1
x1  (3)  1 ft
3
1
y1  (3)  1 ft
3
Part (2): The rectangular area.
A2  (3)(3)  9 ft 2

x2  1.5 ft

y 2  1.5 ft
Part (3): The rectangular area hole is added with
negative sign

A3  (1)(2)  2 ft 2

x3  2.5 ft
y 3  2 ft
,
segment Ai xi yi xi Ai yi Ai
(1) 4.5 1 1 4.5 4.5

(2) 9 -1.5 1.5 -13.5 13.5

(3) -2 -2.5 2 5 -4
 11.5 -4 14
Thus, the coordinates of the centroid are

 xi Ai  4 y
 yi Ai

14
 1.22 ft
x   0.348 ft
 Ai 11.5  Ai 11.5
So, the centroid has the coordinates C (  0.348, 1.22) ft
Example 3
Example 4