Question 1 · Centre of mass of 2D lamina
9 marksA uniform lamina is formed from a rectangle OABC, where \( OA=8\text{ cm} \) (along the x-axis) and \( OC=6\text{ cm} \) (along the y-axis), with a right-angled triangle ABE rigidly attached along edge AB, where the right angle of the triangle is at B and \( BE=5\text{ cm} \) (horizontal, E further from O than B). Taking O as the origin, with OA along the x-axis and OC along the y-axis:
(a) State the area and centre of mass of the rectangular part OABC. [2]
(b) State the coordinates of A, B and E, and hence state the area and centre of mass of the triangular part ABE (you may use the fact that the centroid of a triangle is the mean of the coordinates of its three vertices). [4]
(c) Calculate the coordinates of the centre of mass of the composite lamina. [3]
(a) State the area and centre of mass of the rectangular part OABC. [2]
(b) State the coordinates of A, B and E, and hence state the area and centre of mass of the triangular part ABE (you may use the fact that the centroid of a triangle is the mean of the coordinates of its three vertices). [4]
(c) Calculate the coordinates of the centre of mass of the composite lamina. [3]
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Worked solution
(a) The rectangle OABC has area \( 8\times6=48\text{ cm}^2 \), and (by symmetry) its centre of mass is at its centre, \( (4,3) \).
(b) \( A=(8,0) \), \( B=(8,6) \), and since BE is horizontal with length 5 cm and E is further from O, \( E=(13,6) \). The triangle ABE has a right angle at B, with legs \( AB=6\text{ cm} \) (vertical) and \( BE=5\text{ cm} \) (horizontal), so its area is \( \tfrac12\times6\times5=15\text{ cm}^2 \). Its centroid is the mean of the vertices: \( \left(\dfrac{8+8+13}{3},\dfrac{0+6+6}{3}\right)=\left(\dfrac{29}{3},4\right)=(9.67,4) \) (3 s.f.).
(c) Treating the composite lamina as the rectangle (area 48, centroid (4,3)) together with the triangle (area 15, centroid (29/3,4)), total area \( =48+15=63\text{ cm}^2 \). \( \bar{x}=\dfrac{48(4)+15(29/3)}{63}=\dfrac{192+145}{63}=\dfrac{337}{63}=5.35 \) (3 s.f.). \( \bar{y}=\dfrac{48(3)+15(4)}{63}=\dfrac{144+60}{63}=\dfrac{204}{63}=3.24 \) (3 s.f.). So the centre of mass is at \( (5.35,\ 3.24) \).
(b) \( A=(8,0) \), \( B=(8,6) \), and since BE is horizontal with length 5 cm and E is further from O, \( E=(13,6) \). The triangle ABE has a right angle at B, with legs \( AB=6\text{ cm} \) (vertical) and \( BE=5\text{ cm} \) (horizontal), so its area is \( \tfrac12\times6\times5=15\text{ cm}^2 \). Its centroid is the mean of the vertices: \( \left(\dfrac{8+8+13}{3},\dfrac{0+6+6}{3}\right)=\left(\dfrac{29}{3},4\right)=(9.67,4) \) (3 s.f.).
(c) Treating the composite lamina as the rectangle (area 48, centroid (4,3)) together with the triangle (area 15, centroid (29/3,4)), total area \( =48+15=63\text{ cm}^2 \). \( \bar{x}=\dfrac{48(4)+15(29/3)}{63}=\dfrac{192+145}{63}=\dfrac{337}{63}=5.35 \) (3 s.f.). \( \bar{y}=\dfrac{48(3)+15(4)}{63}=\dfrac{144+60}{63}=\dfrac{204}{63}=3.24 \) (3 s.f.). So the centre of mass is at \( (5.35,\ 3.24) \).
Marking scheme
(a) [1] correct area 48; [1] correct centroid (4,3). (b) [1] correct coordinates of A, B, E; [1] correct area of triangle (15); [1] correct method for triangle centroid (mean of vertices); [1] correct centroid (29/3, 4). (c) [1] correct total area (63); [1] correct method (area-weighted mean, ECF); [1] correct final coordinates (5.35, 3.24), both components correct.