Centroid of Volume

Centroid of volume is the point at which the total volume of a body is

assumed to be concentrated. The volume is having three dimensions i.e., length,
width and thickness. Hence volume is measured in [length] 3. The centroid of a
volume is obtained by dividing the given volume into a large number of small
volumes. Similar method was used for finding the centroid of an area in which case
the given area was divided into large number of small areas.

Theorems of GuldinusPappus

The theorems of GuldinusPappus are concerned with the relation of a

surface of revolution to its generating curve, and the relation of a volume of
revolution to its generating area. Theorem 1. Consider a coplanar generating curve
and an axis of revolution in the plane of this curve. The surface of revolution A
developed by rotating the generating curve about the axis of revolution equals the
product of the length of the generating L curve times the circumference of the
circle formed by the centroid of the generating curve yC in the process of
generating a surface of revolution.

Fig 1. Surface of revolution developed by rotating the generating curve about the
axis of revolution
 A=2 y c L

The generating curve can touch but must not cross the axis of revolution. Proof. An
element dl of the generating curve is considered in Fig 1. For a single revolution of
the generating curve about the x-axis, the line segment dl traces an area

dA=2 ydL

For the entire curve, this area, dA, becomes the surface of revolution, A, given as

A=2 ydl=2 y c L

where L is the length of the curve and y c is the centroidal coordinate of the
curve. The circumferential length of the circle formed by having the centroid of
the curve rotate about the x-axis is 2 y c , q.e.d. The surface of revolution A
is equal to 2 times the first moment of the generating curve about the axis of
revolution. If the generating curve is composed of simple curves, Li, whose
centroids are known, Fig. 2, the surface of revolution developed by revolving the
composed generating curve about the axis of revolution x is
4

Li y Ci
i=1
A=2
 Fig. 2. Composed generating curve

where y Ci is the centroidal coordinate to the ith line

segment Li .

Fig. 3 Volume of revolution developed by rotating the generating plane surface

about the axis of revolution

Theorem 2.2. Consider a generating plane surface A and an axis of revolution

coplanar with the surface Fig.3. The volume of revolution V developed by rotating
the generating plane surface about the axis of revolution equals the product of the
area of the surface times the circumference of the circle formed by the centroid
of the surface y c in the process of generating the body of revolution

V =2 y c A

The axis of revolution can intersect the generating plane surface only as a
tangent at the boundary or have no intersection at all. Proof. The plane surface
A is shown in Fig.3. The volume generated by rotating an element dA of this

surface about the x-axis is

dV =2 ydA

The volume of the body of revolution formed from A is then

V =2 yd A=2 y c A
 Thus, the volume V equals the area of the generating surface A times
the circumferential length of the circle of radius y c , q.e.d.

The volume V equals 2 times the first moment of the generating

area A about the axis of revolution.

Centroids of Common 3D Shapes

Examples

1.The outside diameter of a pulley is 0.8

m, and the cross section of its rim is as
shown. Knowing that the pulley is made
of steel and that the density of steel is
determine the mass and weight of the
3 3
rim. (=7.85 10 kg/m )

SOLUTION:

Apply the theorem of Pappus-Guldinus to evaluate the volumes or revolution for

the rectangular rim section and the inner cut-out section.

Multiply by density and acceleration to get the mass and acceleration.

mm3
9 3
10 m /

m=V =(7.85 103 kg /m3 )(7.65 106 mm3 )
 2
s
9.81 m/=589 N
W =mg=(60.0 kg)

2. Locate the center of gravity of the

steel machine element. The diameter of

each hole is 1 in.

Form the machine element from a rectangular parallelepiped and a quarter cylinder
and then subtracting two 1-in. diameter cylinders.
Exercises

1. Volume of a wine cask

A wine cask has a radius at the top of 30 cm and a radius at the
middle of 40 cm. The height of the cask is 1 m. What is the volume of the
cask (in L), assuming that the shape of the sides is parabolic?

2. An equilateral triangle, 2 units on each side, is rotated around a line parallel

to, and 2 units from, one side. Find the surface area and the volume of the
resulting solid.

3. Volume of a watermelon

A watermelon has an ellipsoidal shape with major axis 28

cm and minor axis 25 cm. Find its volume.

4. Determine the centroid of the solid generated by revolving the area bounded
by the curve y = x2 , y = 9, and x = 0, about the y-axis.

5. Determine the coordinates of the centroids of the

solids generated by revolving:

a. The first quadrant region bounded by the curve y = 4

x2 about the y axis.
6. The third quadrant region bounded by the curve y = x 3 and y = x about y 1 =
0.

7. The region bounded by the curves y = 6x x2 and y = x2 2x about x 4 = 0.

8. Rotate the region bounded by and about the y-axis

9. Rotate the region bounded by , and the y-axis about the y-axis

10. Centroid of a Hemisphere

Find the centroid of volume for a

hemisphere of radius R = 7 cm.