Chapter 1
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HIMANSHU KOTECHAChapter 1
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HIMANSHU KOTECHA1.
1 Introduction
The point may be found through which resultant of all parallel forces acts.
This point through which the whole weight of the body acts irrespective of the
position of the body, is known as centre of gravity (briefly written as c.g).It may
be noted that every body has one, and only one, centre of gravity.
1.2 Centroid
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
method of finding the centroid of a figure is the same as that of finding out
the centre of gravity of a body.
1.3 Methods of Finding out of Centre of Gravity of Simple Figures
The centre of gravity (or centroid) may be found out by any one of the
following methods:
(a)by the geometrical considerations, (b)by the method of graphics, and
( c) by the method of moments.
1.4 Centre of Gravity by the Geometrical Consideration
The c.g of simple figures may be found out from the geometry of the figure
e.g.;
1.The c.g of a uniform rod is at it’s middle point
l/2
D C
A
b/2
b F E
G
G
A B B D C
l
Fig 1.1 Fig 1.2
2.The c.g of a rectangle (or a parallelogram )is a point, where it’s diagonals meet each
other .It is also the middle point of the length as well ad breadth of the rectangle as shown in
Fig 1.1
3.The c.g., of a triangle is a point where the three medians (a median is the line connecting
the vertex and the middle point of the opposite side)of the triangle meet as shown in Fig 1.2
Fig 1.3 Fig 1.4
4.The c.g.,of a semicircle is at a distance of 4r/3∏ from it’s base measured along the vertical
radius as shown in Fig 1.3
5.The c.g.,of hemisphere is at a distance of 3r/8from it’s base measured along the vertical
radius as shown in Fig 1.4
a
G h
h b+2a
(
3 b+a )
Fig 1.5 Fig 1.6
6.The c.g.;of a trapezium with parallel sides a and b is at a distance
of h × b+2a measured from side b as shown in Fig 1.5
3 b+a
7.The c.g.;of a right circular solid cone is at a distance of h/4 from
it’s base measured along the vertical axis as shown in Fig 1.6
Fig 1.7
8.The c.g. of a cube is at a distance of l/2 from every face (where l
is the length of each side)as shown in Fig 1.7
Fig 1.8
8.The c.g. of a sphere is at a distance of d/2 from every point(where
d is the diameter of the sphere)as shown in Fig 1.8
1.5 Centre of Gravity by the Method of Moments
The centre of gravity of a body may be found out by the method
of moments as discussed below:
Fig 1.7
Consider a body of mass M whose c.g. is required to be found
out. Divide the body into small masses ,whose centres of gravity
are known, as shown in Fig 1.7.
Let
where , M=m1 + m2 + m3+...............
, ,
, ,
Note :- , , or , , must be measured
from the same axis of reference (or point of reference and on
the same side of it.If, however, 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 direction must be
taken as negative
1.7 Axis of Reference
The c.g.of the body is always calculated with reference to
some assumed axis known as axis of reference(or sometimes with
plane figures is generally taken as the lowest line of the figure
for calculating and the left line of the figure for calculating
1.8 Axis of Symmetry
Some times the given section ,whose centre of gravity is
required to be found out is symmetrical about X-X or Y-Y axis.In
such case , it is required to calculate either or ,as the c.g. of
the body will lie on the axis of symmetry.
