Date: ____________________
EXPERIMENT # 8
To determine Center of Gravity (Centroid) of various objects by Analytical
solution and Experimental Observations.
PURPOSE:
To determine the centre of gravity (centroid) of an irregularly shaped objects using plumb
line and compare the centroid of various objects determined by experimental observations
and analytical results.
APPARATUS:
Center of gravity apparatus
Objects of various shapes
Graph papers
Cutter
Meter rod
RELATED THEORY
Center of Gravity
It is a point within or near any object from which line of action of resultant of all
gravitational forces passes.
Center of Mass
A specific point where entire mass of body is thought to be concentrated is known as
center of mass.
or
It is the point around which moment of all the gravitational forces completely cancel out
each other.
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
Centroid
Geometric center of an object/body is called centroid.
Significance of Centroid
1. Total resultant gravitational forces act at this point.
2. Entire area is supposed to be concentrated at this point.
3. It is the point at which the body can be supported and stabilized without
overturning.
The center of gravity, center of mass and centroid all are physically same but theoretically
different. Theoretically, there are some differences between them which are given below
The term "center of gravity" applies to the bodies with mass and weight, while the
term "centroid" applies to plan areas.
Center of gravity of a body is the point through which the resultant gravitational
force (weight) of the body acts for any orientation of the body while centroid is
the point in a plane area such that the moment of the area, about any axis, through
that point is zero.
The center of mass is a geometrical measurement not considering the weight
distribution. The center of gravity is one location on a particular mass structure
where the distribution of weight is the same no matter the direction of the
measurement as it pertains to that one particular mass structure.
Center of gravity of various shapes
Shapes Images Area
Triangular Area
Quarter–circular area
Semicircular area 0
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
Semiparabolic area
Parabolic area 0
Parabolic spandrel
Circular Sector 0
Quarter-circular arc
Semicircular arc 0
Arc of circle 0
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Engineering Mechanics – Experim
riments Manual
PROCEDURE
Fix the graph paper on the given object of any shape.
Hang the figure throug
ough its hole in the center of gravity apparatus.
Hang plumb bob with
ith nail and draw lines of action of the plumb bob
ob (thread line)
as shown in fig.-1.
Hang plumb bob at va
various positions and draw all lines of action.
Common point where
ere all the lines intersect is the center of gravity
ity of the given
shape object as shown
wn in fig.-1.
Repeat the same steps
ps to measure the center of gravity of various shap
hape objects.
Fig.- 1 shows Apparatus and
nd Procedure to find center of gravity
Locating the center of mass
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
SHAPE-1
Area X Y AX AY
Portion
cm2 cm cm cm3 cm3
A1
A2
A3
A4
∑A =nnnn nn ∑AX =nnnn nn ∑AY =nnnn nn
∑ଡ଼ ∑ଢ଼
X= = cm Y= = cm
∑ ∑
SHAPE-2
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
Area X Y AX AY
Portion
cm2 cm cm cm3 cm3
A1
A2
A3
A4
∑A =nnnn nn ∑AX =nnnn nn ∑AY =nnnn nn
∑ଡ଼ ∑ଢ଼
X= = cm Y= = cm
∑ ∑
SHAPE-3
Area X Y AX AY
Portion
cm2 cm cm cm3 cm3
A1
A2
A3
A4
∑A =nnnn nn ∑AX =nnnn nn ∑AY =nnnn nn
∑ଡ଼ ∑ଢ଼
X= = cm Y= = cm
∑ ∑
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
SHAPE-4
Area X Y AX AY
Portion
cm2 cm cm cm3 cm3
A1
A2
A3
A4
∑A =nnnn nn ∑AX =nnnn nn ∑AY =nnnn nn
∑ଡ଼ ∑ଢ଼
X= = cm Y= = cm
∑ ∑
PRECAUTIONS
Paste the graph on the object carefully and allow the body to come in static state.
Plumb line should be taken carefully and measure all the dimensions accurately.
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Engineering Mechanics – Experiments Manual
RESULTS
Center of Gravity
Shapes Experimentally Analytically %age difference
X (cm) Y (cm) X (cm) Y (cm) X (%) Y (%)
Anal. −Exp.
%age Difference = × 100
Anal.
COMMENTS
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