STATICS OF RIGID BODIES 5
CENTER OF GRAVITY
The center of gravity is a point where whole
the weight of the body act is called center of gravity. As
we know that every particle of a body is attracted by
the earth towards its center with a magnitude of the
weight of the body. As the distance between the
different particles of a body and the center of the earth
is the same, therefore these forces may be taken to
act along parallel lines. A point may be found out in a
body, through which the resultant of all such parallel
forces acts. This point, through which the whole PRINCIPLE OF MOMENT/ VARIGNON ’ S THEOREM
resultant (weight of the body acts, irrespective of its is stated that the moment of a force about a
position, is known as center of gravity (briefly written point is equal to the sum of the moments of the force
as C.G). It may be noted that everybody has one and components about the point. Or the moment produce
only one center of gravity. by the resultant force is equal to the moment produce
by the force components.
CENTROID
The plane figures (like triangle, quadrilateral, Centroids of Composite Figures
circle etc.) have only areas, but no mass. The center of
area of such figures is known as Centroid. The method Center of gravity of a homogeneous flat plate
of finding out the Centroid of a figure is the same as
that of finding out the center of gravity of a body. 𝑊𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑤𝑥
AXIS OF REFERENCE
𝑊𝑦̅ = ∑ 𝑤𝑦
The center of gravity of a body is always
calculated with referrer to some assumed axis known
as axis of reference. The axis of reference, of plane Centroids of areas
figures, is generally taken as the lowest line of the 𝐴𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑎𝑥
figure for calculating y and the left line of the figure for
calculating x.
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∑ 𝑎𝑦
METHODS FOR CENTRE OF GRAVITY OF SIMPLE
FIGURES
Centroids of lines
The center of gravity (or Centroid) may be found out by
any one of the following methods 𝐿𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑙𝑥
1. By geometrical considerations
2. By moments method
3. By graphical method 𝐿𝑦̅ = ∑ 𝑙𝑦
1. Center of Gravity by Geometrical Considerations Centroids Determined by Integration
The center of gravity of simple figures may be
found out from the geometry of the figure Centroid of area
𝑏
𝐴𝑥̅ = ∫ 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐴
𝑎
𝑏
𝐴𝑦̅ = ∫ 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐴
𝑎
Centroid of lines
𝑏
𝐿𝑥̅ = ∫ 𝑥𝑐 𝑑𝐿
𝑎
𝑏
𝐿𝑦̅ = ∫ 𝑦𝑐 𝑑𝐿
𝑎
1. Compute the area of the spandrel in Figure
bounded by the x-axis, the line x = b, and the
curve y = kxn where n ≥ 0. What is the location of
its centroid from the line x = b? Determine also
the y coordinate of the centroid.
2. Determine the coordinates of the centroid of
the area shown in Figure with respect to the given
axes.
a. 79.69 mm c. 85.75 mm
b. 90.00 mm d. 83.16 mm
Moment of inertia, also called the second
moment of area, is the product of area and the
square of its moment arm about a reference axis.
Situation:
The composite figure has the dimension shown.
Dimensions are in millimeter. Moment of inertia about the x-axis:
𝐼𝑥 = ∫ 𝑦 2 𝑑𝐴
Moment of inertia about the y-axis:
𝐼𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝐴
Polar Moment of Inertia:
Polar moment of inertia is the moment of inertia
about the z-axis.
𝐽 = 𝐼𝑥 + 𝐼𝑦
𝐽 = ∫ 𝑟 2 𝑑𝐴
Radius of Gyration
3. Determine the location 𝑥̅ of the centroid of the area
from the reference y-axis. 𝐼
a. 66.60 mm c. 46.60 mm 𝑘=√
𝐴
b. 56.60 mm d. 36.60 mm
𝐼𝑥
4. Determine the location 𝑦̅ of the centroid of the area 𝑘𝑥 = √
𝐴
from the reference x-axis.
a. 338.44 mm c. 308.44 mm 𝐼𝑦
b. 328.44 mm d. 358.44 mm 𝑘𝑦 = √
𝐴
5. Determine the location 𝑦̅ of the centroid C of the beam 𝐽
having the cross-sectional area shown. 𝑘𝑧 = √
𝐴
Transfer Formula for Moment of Inertia
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼̅𝑎 + 𝐴𝑑 2
Product of Inertia
𝐼𝑥𝑦 = ∫ 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝐴
This is usually used in computations for maximum
and minimum values of moments of inertia,
usually for unsymmetrical bending of beams.
Note: The sign of the product of inertia depends
upon the location of the area relative to the axes.
The composite figure has the dimension shown.
Dimensions are in millimeter.
6. Calculate the moment of inertia with respect to its
centroidal x-axis.
a. 7.74𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 c. 3.81𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
b. 23.61𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 d. 55.38𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
7. Calculate the moment of inertia with respect to its
centroidal y-axis.
a. 7.74𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 c. 3.81𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
b. 23.61𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 d. 55.38𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
8. Calculate the moment of inertia about the x-axis.
a. 7.74𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 c. 3.81𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
b. 23.61𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 d. 55.38𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
9. Calculate the moment of inertia about the y-axis.
a. 7.74𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 c. 3.81𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
b. 23.61𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 d. 55.38𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
10. Calculate the radius of gyration about the x-axis.
a. 60.62 mm c. 34.72 mm
b. 24.36 mm d. 92.84 mm
11. Calculate the radius of gyration about the y-axis.
a. 60.62 mm c. 34.72 mm
b. 24.36 mm d. 92.84 mm
12. Determine the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional
area of the T-beam with respect to its centroidal x-axis.
13. Determine the location 𝑦̅ of the centroid of the area
from the reference x-axis.
a. 9.04 in. c. 8.49 in.
b. 5.20 in. d. 10.77 in.
14. Determine the moment of inertia with respect to its
centroidal x-axis.
a. 407.30 in4 c. 542.32 in4
b. 342.27 in4 d. 477.29 in4
15. Determine the moment of inertia with respect to its
centroidal y-axis.
a. 90.60 in4 c. 225.62 in4
b. 25.57 in4 d. 160.59 in4
a. 27.0𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 c. 37.0𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
b. 8.78𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4 d. 7.88𝑥106 𝑚𝑚4
Situation: A W14 × 34 section is joined to a C10 × 15.3
section to form a structural member that has the cross
section shown. The American Institute of Steel Construction
Structural Steel Handbook lists the following crosssectional
properties: