A thin rod of length L = 2.0 m has linear mass density ฮป(x) = ฮปโ(1 + x/L), where ฮปโ = 3.0 kg/m and x is measured from one end. Find: (a) the total mass, (b) the center of mass position, and (c) the moment of inertia about an axis through the center of mass.
Center of mass calculations for discrete and continuous systems
How can I study Center of Mass effectively?โพ
Start by reading the study notes and working through the examples on this page. Then use the flashcards to test your recall. Practice with the 3 problems provided, checking solutions as you go. Regular review and active practice are key to retention.
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What course covers Center of Mass?โพ
Center of Mass is part of the AP Physics C: Mechanics course on Study Mondo, specifically in the Linear Momentum section. You can explore the full course for more related topics and practice resources.
Cone of height h and base radius R (vertex at origin):
By symmetry: xcmโ=ycmโ=0
Use disk method:
zcmโ=M1โโซzdm
At height z, radius r=hRโz, disk mass dm=ฯฯr2dz
zcmโ=M1โโซ0hโzโ ฯฯh2R2โz2dz=43hโ
Two-Body Problem
For two bodies with masses m1โ and m2โ separated by distance r:
Place m1โ at origin:
rcmโ=m1โ+m2โm2โrโ
Distance from m1โ to CM: r1โ=m1โ+m2โm2โrโ
Distance from m2โ to CM: r2โ=m1โ+m2โm1โrโ
Note: r1โ+r2โ=r
M=โซ0Lโฮป(x)dx=โซ0Lโฮป0โ(1+Lxโ)dx
M=ฮป0โ[x+2Lx2โ]0Lโ=ฮป0โ(L+2Lโ)
M=ฮป0โโ 23Lโ=(3.0)23(2.0)โ
M=9.0ย kgโ
(b) Center of mass:
xcmโ=M1โโซ0Lโxฮป(x)dx
xcmโ=M1โโซ0Lโxฮป0โ(1+Lxโ)dx
xcmโ=Mฮป0โโโซ0Lโ(x+Lx2โ)dx
xcmโ=Mฮป0โโ[2x2โ+3Lx3โ
xcmโ=Mฮป0โโ(2L2โ+3L2โ=Mฮป0โL2โ(6
xcmโ=9.0(3.0)(2.0)2โ(65โ)=912โโ 65โ
xcmโ=1.11ย mย fromย lightย endโ
(c) Moment of inertia about CM:
Icmโ=โซ0Lโ(xโxcmโ)2ฮป(x)dx
This integral is complex. Alternative approach:
Icmโ=I0โโMxcm2โ
where I0โ=โซ0Lโx2ฮป(x)dx (about x = 0)
After calculation:
Icmโโ1.78ย kg\cdotpm2โ
2Problem 2easy
โ Question:
A system consists of three masses: mโ = 2.0 kg at (0, 0), mโ = 3.0 kg at (4, 0) m, and mโ = 1.0 kg at (2, 3) m. Find: (a) the center of mass coordinates, (b) if a 10 N force acts on the system in the +x direction, find the acceleration of the center of mass.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
mโ = 2.0 kg at (0, 0)
mโ = 3.0 kg at (4, 0)
mโ = 1.0 kg at (2, 3)
(a) Center of mass coordinates:
Total mass:
M=m1โ+m2โ+m3โ=2.0+3.0+1.0=6.0ย kg
x-coordinate:
xcmโ=Mm
xcmโ=6.0(2.0
xcmโ=6.00+12+2โ
y-coordinate:
ycmโ=Mm
ycmโ=6.0(
ycmโ=6.03โ=
Center of mass: (2.33, 0.50) m
(b) Acceleration of center of mass:
Fnetโ=M
acmโ=MF
acmโ=1.67ย m/s2ย inย +xย directionโ
3Problem 3hard
โ Question:
A uniform semicircular disk of radius R = 0.4 m and mass M = 2.0 kg lies in the xy-plane with its diameter along the x-axis. Using integration, find: (a) the y-coordinate of the center of mass, (b) the moment of inertia about an axis through the origin perpendicular to the disk.
๐ก Show Solution
Given:
R = 0.4 m
M = 2.0 kg
Semicircular disk (uniform)
(a) Y-coordinate of center of mass:
By symmetry, xcmโ=0
Mass element in polar coordinates:
dm=ฯdA=ฯrdrdฮธ
where surface density ฯ=21โฯR
ycmโ=M1โโซy
In polar: y=rsinฮธ
ycmโ=M
ycmโ=Mฯโ
ycmโ=ฯR
ycmโ=ฯR
ycmโ=ฯR
ycmโ=3ฯ4(0.4)โ
ycmโ=0.170ย m=3ฯ
(b) Moment of inertia about z-axis (through origin):
Izโ=โซr2dm=
Izโ=ฯโซ0ฯโ
Izโ=ฯR2
Izโ=2(2.0)(0.4)
Izโ=0.16ย kg\cdotpm2โ
โพ
Yes, this page includes 3 practice problems with detailed solutions. Each problem includes a step-by-step explanation to help you understand the approach.