20
CENTROID OF AN ASSEMBLAGE
The centroid of an assemblage of n similar quantities,
∆
7, ∆
, ∆
8… . . ∆
; situated at points
P
7, P
, P
8, … . P
; for which the position vectors relative to a selected point О are r
7, r
, r
8, … . r
; has
a position vector
r< defined as
r
=
=r
>∆
>
;
>?7
=∆
>
;
>?7
Where
∆
>= i th quantity (for example, this could be an element of length, area, volume, or mass)
r
> = position vector of i th element
=∆
>
;
>?7 = sum of all n elements
=r
>∆
>
;
>?7 = First moment of all elements relative to the selected point O.
In terms of r, y, and z coordinates, the centroid has coordinates
x
=
=x
>∆
>
;
>?7
=∆
>
;
>?7
y=
=y
>∆
>
;
>?7
=∆
>
;
>?7
z=
=z
>∆
>
;
>?7
=∆
>
;
>?7
Where
∆
>= magnitude of the ith quantity (element)
x
, y, z = coordinates of centroid of the assemblage
x
>, y
>, z
>= coordinates of p
> at which ∆
>, is concentrated.
CENTROID OF A CONTINUOUS QUANTITY
The centroid of a continuous quantity may be located by calculus using infinitesimal elements of
the quantity (such as dL of a line, dA of an area, dV of a volume, or dm of a mass). Thus, for a
mass m we can write
r
=
Crdm
Cdm
In terms of r. y, and z coordinates the centroid of the continuous quantity has coordinates
x
=
CD74
C74
=
E
FG
4
y=
CH74
C74
=
E
IG
4
z=
CJ74
C74
=
E
IF
4
WhereQ
HJ, Q
DJ, Q
DH= first moments with respect to xy, yz, xz planes.
The centroid of a homogeneous mass coincides with the centroid of its volume.
Centroid of a line
Method of finding the centroid of a line for some standard cases is illustrated below:
(i) Centroid of a straight line:
Selecting the r-coordinate along the line
Lx
L=Cxdx
M
N
= O
D
6
P
N
Q
=
Q
6
⇒ x
L=
Q
6