Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics PDF Download

Centre of Mass

Consider a system composed of N particles with each particle's mass described by mi, where i is an index from i = 1 to i = N . The total mass of the system is denoted by M,
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
where the summation over i runs from i = 1 to i = N.
Such a system is displayed in figure given. If the vector connecting the origin with the ith particle is ri then the vector defining the position of the system's center of mass is Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsThe position of the centre of mass is defined by RCMCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
For N number of mass elements, if ris the position of the jth element, and mj is its mass, then the center of mass is defined as Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics


Example 1: The position vector of three particles of mass m= 1kg, m2 = 2 kg and m3 = 3kg are Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics 

respectively. Find the position vector of their centre of mass.

The position vector of COM of the three particles will be given by

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Substituting the values, we get
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics


Example 2: Four particles of mass 1 kg, 2kg, 3kg and 4kg are placed at the four vertices A,B, C and D of a square of side 1 m. Find the position of centre of mass of the particles.

Assuming D as the origin, DC as x - axis and DA as y - axis, we have
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physicsm1 = 1kg, x1, y1) = ( 0,1 m)
m2 = 2kg, x2, y2) = (1m,1m)
m3 = 3kg, x3, y3) = (1 m, 0)
m4 = 4kg, x4, y4) = (0, 0)
and co-ordinates of their COM are
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Similarly,
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
∴ (xCOMyCOM = (0.5,0.3)

Rigid Body Dynamics

A rigid body is defined as system of particles in which the distance between any two particles remains fixed throughout the motion.

Degree of Freedom of Rigid Body

To define rigid body, there must be minimum 3 non-collinear points.
Let P1 (x1, y1, z1), P2 (x2, y2 , z2) , P3 (x3, y3, z3) are three non-collinear points.
So, equation of constrained is
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physicsr12 = (x1 - x2)2 + (y1 - y2)2 + (z1 - z2)2 = c1
r23 = (x2 - x3)2 + (y2 - y3)2 + (z2 - z3)2 = c2
r13 = (x1 - x3)2 + (y1 - y3)2 + (z1 - z3)2 = c3
Dof = 3N - K
3 x 3 - 3 = 6
So there is six degree of freedom for rigid body

Center of Mass of Continuous System

The result is not rigorous, since the mass elements are not true particles. However, in the limit where N approaches infinity, the size of each element approaches zero and the approximation becomes exact.
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsThis limiting process defines an integral. 

FormallyCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physicswhere dm is a differential mass element. Then,
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
To visualize this integral, think of dm as the mass in an element of volume dV located at position r. If the mass density at the element is ρ, then dm = ρdV and Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics. This 

integral is called a volume integral.

Example 3: A rod of length L is placed along the x - axis between x = 0 and x = L. The linear density (mass/length) λ of the rod varies with the distance x from the origin as λ = Rx . Here, R is a positive constant. Find the position of centre of mass of this rod.

Mass of element dx situated at x = x is
dm = λdx = Rx dx
The COM of the element has coordinates (x,0,0).
Therefore, x -coordinate of COM of the rod will be

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
The y -coordinate of COM of the rod is yCOM Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics(as y = 0 )
Similarly, zCOM = 0 Hence, the centre of mass of the rod lies at Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics


Example 4: Find the center of mass of a thin rectangular plate with sides of length α and b, whose mass per unit area σ varies in the following fashion:
σ = σ0(xy/αb) where σ0 is a constant.

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

We find M , the mass of the plate, as follows:
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsWe first integrate over x , treating y as a constant.
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
The x component of R is
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Similarly,Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
⇒ y = 2/3 b So center of mass is Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Example 5 : Find the centre of mass of semicircular disc of mass M and radius R.

From the circular  symmetry x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics


Example 6: Find the centre of mass of a hollow hemisphere of radius R and mass M.

Consider a ring at angle θ from the base area of ring This problem can be solved in spherical symmetry
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

x = R sinθ cos∅ , y = R sinθ sin∅ , z = R cos θ

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
XC.M = ∫xdm
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsR sin θ cos ∅.sin θdθd∅Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Second method
The integral is over three dimensions, but the symmetry of the situations lets us treat it as a one dimensional integral. We mentally subdivide the hemisphere into a pile of thin disks. Consider the circular disk of radius r and thickness dz . Its volume is dV = πr2dz , and its mass is
dM = ρdV= (M/V) dV, where V = 2/3 πR3.

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Hence, Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

To evaluate the integral, we need to find r in terms of z. Since, r2 = R- z2, we have
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Example 7: Find the centre of mass triangular plate of Mass M .  Where l and h are given parameter shown in figure.
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics 

Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - PhysicsCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
lf some mass M1 is removed from a rigid body of mass M , then the position of centre of mass of the remaining portion is obtained from the following formulae:
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Here, Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physicsthe values mass and center of mass of  the whole mass while areCentre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physicsthe values for the mass which has been removed.


Example 8: Find the position of centre of mass of the remaining plate when a circle is cut from right half radius of circle is l/8. Centre of circle is in centre of the right part of the plate.
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

Area Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics 
A1 l2/4 l/4 l/2
A2 l2/4 3l/8 l/2
A3 πl2/64 3l/8 l/2
Taking origin at corner O
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics
Centre of mass is (0.28l, 0.5l).

The document Centre of Mass | Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics is a part of the Physics Course Mechanics & General Properties of Matter.
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FAQs on Centre of Mass - Mechanics & General Properties of Matter - Physics

1. What is the definition of the center of mass?
Ans. The center of mass is a point that represents the average position of the mass of an object. It is the point at which the entire mass of the object can be considered to be concentrated.
2. How is the center of mass calculated for a rigid body?
Ans. The center of mass for a rigid body can be calculated by finding the weighted average of the positions of all the individual masses that make up the body. This can be done by dividing the sum of the products of the mass of each component and its position vector by the total mass of the body.
3. Why is the center of mass important in rigid body dynamics?
Ans. The center of mass is important in rigid body dynamics because it can be used to simplify the analysis of the motion of a system. By treating the entire mass of the object as if it were concentrated at the center of mass, we can apply Newton's laws of motion to the system as a whole.
4. Can the center of mass be outside the physical boundaries of an object?
Ans. Yes, the center of mass can be outside the physical boundaries of an object. The position of the center of mass depends on the distribution of mass within the object, so it is possible for the center of mass to be located in empty space or outside the actual boundaries of the object.
5. How does the center of mass affect the stability of a rigid body?
Ans. The center of mass plays a crucial role in determining the stability of a rigid body. If the center of mass is located above the base of support, the body is more likely to topple over. On the other hand, if the center of mass is located within the base of support, the body is more stable and less likely to tip or fall.
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