Chapter

6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Centroids and Moment of Inertia

Learning After finishing this module, you are expected to:
Objectives
1. Know what is center of gravity and centroid
2. Familiarize centroid of different geometric sections
3. Compute centroid of composite plane figures
4. Calculate moment of inertia of geometric sections
5. Use transfer moment of inertia accurately

Topics 6.1 Introduction

6.2 Importance of Centroids and Center of Gravity
6.3 Centroids of Composite Figures

Warm Up:
Give three things that you expect you will learn in this module.
1. _________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________
_____________

Pre-Test: Explain/Define the following terms

1. Centroids
2. Center of Gravity
3. Centroidal Axis
4. Axis of Symmetry

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies
6-1 Introduction
In the study of the effect of forces on a body, it is apparent to discuss about
the centroid and center of gravity because this is the point through which the
resultant weight of the acts.
Centroid is the average position of all the points of an object and defines
the geometric center of an object. When we cut a plane shape from a piece of
card it balances perfectly on its centroid.

Figure 6.1.1

The Center of Gravity is the same as the centroid when the density is the
same throughout. Center of Gravity is also called the Center of Mass because it
considers the density of an object.
Centre of Gravity (or) mass centre of a point in the body where entire
mass or weight – is assumed to be concentrated. In other words, it is a point in the
body, through which the resultant of the weights of different parts of the body is
assumed to be acting. It is generally written as C.G.

Figure 6.1.2

A force that goes through the canter of gravity won't cause any rotation. In
fact you can balance an object by supporting it directly below its center of gravity.
Centroidal Axis is the axis which passes through centre of gravity (or)
centroid of an object or figure.

Figure 6.1.3

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Axis of Symmetry is the line dividing the figure into two equal parts like
mirror images the centroid always lies on the axis of symmetry.

Axis of Symmetry

Figure 6.1.4
A figure may contain one (or) more axis of symmetry. If there are more
axis of symmetry the centroid lies at the intersection of axis of symmetry.

Figure 6.1.5

Centroids for Common Geometric Shapes

Shape Area ̅
𝒙 ̅
𝒚

1. Rectangle

𝒃𝒅 𝒃 𝒅
𝟐 𝟐

2. Triangle

𝟏 𝟏
𝒃𝒉 𝒉
𝟐 𝟑

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Shape Area ̅
𝒙 ̅
𝒚

3. Semicircle

𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝟒𝒓
𝒓
𝟐 𝟑𝝅

4. Quarter Circle

𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝟒𝒓 𝟒𝒓
𝟒 𝟑𝝅 𝟑𝝅

5. Parabola

𝒚𝟐 = 𝒌𝒙
𝟐 𝟐 𝟑
𝒃𝒉 𝒃 𝒉
𝟑 𝟓 𝟖

6-2 Importance of Centroids and Center of Gravity

The location of the centroid of an area is of great importance in the

subsequent work on strength of materials (Mechanics of Deformable Bodies). A
student will learn that in order to produce uniform stress distribution, the loads must
be placed so that the line of action of their resultant coincides with the centroid of
the cross-section of the member.
The position of the centroid of an area is also important for determining
the location of the neutral axis (axis with zero stress) in the bending of beams, it is
shown that the neutral axis passes through the centroid of the cross-section of the
beam. Many other instances like determination of the moment of inertia will also
come the students’ attention in his engineering studies.

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Calculation steps:

1. Divide the areas into simple shapes to define the required geometric figure
2. State the reference axes
3. Find the areas and centroids referred from the reference axes
4. Find the centroid using the formula

𝐴𝑇 (𝑥̅ ) = ∑ 𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑥3 … … . . + 𝑎𝑛 𝑥𝑛

∑ 𝑎𝑥
𝑥̅ =
𝐴𝑇
𝐴𝑇 (𝑦̅) = ∑ 𝑎1 𝑦1 + 𝑎2 𝑦2 + 𝑎3 𝑦3 … … . . + 𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑛

∑ 𝑎𝑦
𝑦̅ =
𝐴𝑇

6-3 Centroids of Composite Figures

Illustrative Problem No. 1) The dimensions of the I-section of the steel beam are
shown. How far is the centroid of the area above the base?

Figure 6.2.1

Solution:
Divide the areas into simple shapes with reference axis at the base

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Find the areas and centroids referred from the reference axis (base)

ℎ 20
𝑦1 = + 130 = + 130 = 140𝑚𝑚
2 2
ℎ 100
𝑦2 = + 30 = + 30 = 80𝑚𝑚
2 2
ℎ 30
𝑦2 = = = 15𝑚
2 2

𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 (𝒎𝒎𝟐 ) 𝒚 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑨𝒚(𝒎𝒎𝟐 )

1. Rectangle 1 (80)(20) 1600 140 224,000
2. Rectangle 2 (15)(100) 1500 80 120,000
3. Rectangle 3 (120)(30) 3600 15 54,000
Total 𝟔𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝟑𝟗𝟖, 𝟎𝟎𝟎

Find the centroid using the formula

𝑨𝑻 (𝒚
̅) = ∑ 𝑨𝒚

𝑎1 𝑦1 + 𝑎2 𝑦2 + 𝑎3 𝑦3
𝑦̅ =
𝐴𝑇

398,000
𝑦̅ =
6,700
̅ = 𝟓𝟗. 𝟒𝟎𝒎𝒎 (𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆)
𝒚

Illustrative Problem No. 2) Determine the x and y-coordinate of the centroid of the
shaded area. Dimensions are in 𝑚𝑚.

Figure 6.2.2

Engr. Edna P. Montañez | Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Solution:

Divide the areas into simple shapes with reference axis at x and y-axes and
find the areas and centroids referred from the reference axis

Shapes Figure Area

𝑨𝑹 = 𝒃𝒉
= (100)(60)
1. Rectangle
𝑨𝑹 = 𝟔, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝝅𝒓𝟐
𝑨𝑸𝑪 =
𝟒
𝜋(25)2
2. Quarter Circle =
4
𝑨𝑸𝑪 = 𝟒𝟗𝟎. 𝟖𝟕𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝟏
𝑨𝑻 = 𝒃𝒉
𝟐
3. Triangle 1
= (45)(60)
2
𝑨𝑻 = 𝟏, 𝟑𝟓𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐

Determine the distance 𝑥 and 𝑦 of each area from the 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 respectively

𝑏 100
𝑥1 = = = 𝟓𝟎𝒎𝒎
2 2
4𝑟 4(25)
𝑥2 = = = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟔𝟏𝒎𝒎
3𝜋 3𝜋
2 2
𝑥3 = 𝑏 + 55 = (45) + 55
3 3
= 𝟖𝟓𝒎𝒎
𝑏 60
𝑦1 = = = 𝟑𝟎𝒎𝒎
2 2
4𝑟 4(25)
𝑦2 = 60 − = 60 − = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟑𝟗𝒎𝒎
3𝜋 3𝜋
1 1
𝑦3 = ℎ = (60) = 𝟐𝟎 𝒎𝒎
3 3

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 (𝒎𝒎𝟐 ) 𝒙 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑨𝒙(𝒎𝒎𝟐 ) 𝒚 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑨𝒚(𝒎𝒎𝟐 )

1. Rectangle 6,000 50 300,000 30 180,000

2. Quarter −490.87 10.61 − 5,208.13 49.39 −24,244.07

Circle
3. Triangle − 1,350 85 − 114,750 20 −27,000

Total 𝟒, 𝟏𝟓𝟗. 𝟏𝟑 𝟏𝟖𝟎, 𝟎𝟒𝟏. 𝟖𝟕 𝟏𝟐𝟖, 𝟕𝟓𝟓. 𝟗𝟑

Find the centroid using the formula

𝑨𝑻 (𝒙
̅) = ∑ 𝒂𝒙

𝑎1 𝑥1 + 𝑎2 𝑥2 + 𝑎3 𝑥3
𝑥̅ =
𝐴𝑇

180,041.87
𝑥̅ =
4,159.13
̅ = 𝟒𝟑. 𝟐𝟗 𝒎𝒎 (𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔)
𝒙

𝑦̅ = ∑ 𝑎𝑦

𝑎1 𝑦1 + 𝑎2 𝑦2 + 𝑎3 𝑦3
𝑦̅ =
𝐴𝑇

128,755.93
𝑦̅ =
4,159.13
̅ = 𝟑𝟎. 𝟗𝟔 𝒎𝒎 (𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔)
𝒚

Illustrative Problem No. 3) Determine the centroid of the shaded area shown in
the figure with respect to the x and y-axis. Dimensions are in 𝑚𝑚.

Figure 6.2.3

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Solution:

Divide the areas into simple shapes to define the shaded area

Shapes Figure Area

𝟏
𝑨𝑻 = 𝒃𝒉
𝟐
1
1. Triangle = (40)(80)
2
𝑨𝑻 = 𝟏, 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝑨𝑹𝟏 = 𝒃𝒉
2. Rectangle 1 = (50)(40)
𝑨𝑹𝟏 = 𝟐, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝑨𝑹𝟐 = 𝒃𝒉
= (100)(80)
𝑨𝑹𝟐 = 𝟖, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝒎𝒎𝟐
3. Rectangle 2

𝝅𝒓𝟐
𝑨𝑺𝑪𝟏 =
𝟐
𝜋(30)2
4. Semicircle 1 =
2
𝑨𝑺𝑪𝟏 = 𝟏, 𝟒𝟏𝟑. 𝟕𝟐𝒎𝒎𝟐

𝝅𝒓𝟐
𝑨𝑺𝑪𝟐 =
𝟐
5. Semicircle 2
𝜋(40)2
=
2
𝑨𝑺𝑪𝟐 = 𝟐, 𝟓𝟏𝟑. 𝟐𝟕𝒎𝒎𝟐

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Determine the distance 𝑥 and 𝑦 of each area from the reference axis

2 2
𝑥1 = 𝑏 = (40) = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟔𝟕𝒎𝒎
3 3
𝑏 50
𝑥2 = + 60 = + 60 = 𝟖𝟓 𝒎𝒎
2 2
𝑏 100
𝑥3 = + 40 = + 40 = 𝟗𝟎 𝒎𝒎
2 2
4𝑟 4(30)
𝑥4 = + 140 = + 140
3𝜋 3𝜋
= 𝟏𝟓𝟐. 𝟕𝟑 𝒎𝒎
4𝑟 4(40)
𝑥5 = + 140 = + 140
3𝜋 3𝜋
= 𝟏𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟖 𝒎𝒎

1 1
𝑦1 = ℎ = (80) = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎𝒎
3 3
ℎ 40
𝑦2 = + 20 = + 20 = 𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝒎
2 2
ℎ 80
𝑦3 = = = 𝟒𝟎 𝒎𝒎
2 2
𝑦4 = 𝑟 + 10 = 30 + 10 = 𝟒𝟎𝒎𝒎
𝑦5 = 𝑟 = 𝟒𝟎𝒎𝒎

𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 (𝒎𝒎𝟐 ) 𝒙 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑨𝒙(𝒎𝒎𝟐 ) 𝒚 (𝒎𝒎) 𝑨𝒚(𝒎𝒎𝟐 )

1. Triangle 1,600 26.67 42,672 26.67 42,672

2. Rectangle 1 −2,000 85 −170,000 40 −80,000

3. Rectangle 2 8,000 90 720,000 40 320,000

4. Semicircle 1 −1,413.72 152.73 −215,917.46 40 −56,548.8

5. Semicircle 2 2,513.27 156.98 394,533.12 40 100,530.8

Total 𝟖, 𝟔𝟗𝟗. 𝟓𝟓 𝟕𝟕𝟏, 𝟐𝟖𝟕. 𝟔𝟔 𝟑𝟐𝟔, 𝟔𝟓𝟒

Engr. Edna P. Montañez | Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

Compute the centroid using the formula

𝑨𝑻 (𝒙
̅) = ∑ 𝒂𝒙

771,287.66
𝑥̅ =
8,699.55

̅ = 𝟖𝟖. 𝟔𝟔 𝒎𝒎 (𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔)

𝒙

𝐴𝑇 (𝑦̅) = ∑ 𝑎𝑦

326,654
𝑦̅ = =
8,699.55

̅ = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟓 𝒎𝒎 (𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔)

𝒚

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oil5x9tVhg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCwvoUTyqJg

Do-it-Yourself

Practice Activity

Determine the centroid of the shaded figure shown from x and y-axis referred
from the origin.

Figure 1
www.GeoGebra.com

Read the topic “Moment of Inertia” in preparation for the next

Module.

Engr. Edna P. Montañez | Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies
WORKSHEET No. 17

Name: _____________________________________ Course/Year: ___________

Instructor: __________________________________ Rating: ________________

Instruction: Answer the following problems:

Determine the centroid of the shaded area shown from the reference 𝑥 and
𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑒𝑠

1.

Figure 2

2.

Figure 3

3.

Figure 4
MATHalino.com

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Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

4.

Figure 5

5.

Figure 6
weh.maritime.edu

6.

Figure 7
faculty.mercer.edu

Engr. Edna P. Montañez | Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

Chapter
6 Statics of Rigid Bodies

7.

Figure 8
study.com
8.

Figure 9
chegg

9.

Figure 10
chegg

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