Part of ME-05 — Rotational Motion

Concept: Centre of Mass Positions

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Standard Centre of Mass Positions

BodyCM PositionMeasured From
Uniform rod (length L)L/2L/2Either end
Uniform disc / ringGeometric centre
Triangular lamina (height h)h/3h/3Base
Semicircular ring (radius R)2Rπ0.637R\dfrac{2R}{\pi} \approx 0.637RCentre of full circle
Semicircular disc (radius R)4R3π0.424R\dfrac{4R}{3\pi} \approx 0.424RCentre of full circle
Uniform solid hemisphere (radius R)3R8=0.375R\dfrac{3R}{8} = 0.375RCentre of flat face
Hollow hemispherical shell (radius R)R/2=0.5RR/2 = 0.5RCentre of flat face

Memory Pattern

Note the decreasing sequence of CM distances from the centre for curved shapes:

  • Semicircular ring: 2R/π0.637R2R/\pi \approx 0.637R (all mass at edge)
  • Semicircular disc: 4R/3π0.424R4R/3\pi \approx 0.424R (mass spread inward)
  • Solid hemisphere: 3R/8=0.375R3R/8 = 0.375R (mass fills volume)
  • Hollow hemispherical shell: R/2=0.5RR/2 = 0.5R (mass at surface only)

Key Formula for CM

For any finite system: rcm=miriMtotal\vec{r}_{cm} = \dfrac{\sum m_i \vec{r}_i}{M_{total}}

For a body with a cavity: treat the cavity as a negative mass at the cavity's CM position.

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