Center of Mass and Moment of Inertia

Mass

We saw before that the double integral over a region of the constant function 1 measures the area of the region.  If the region has uniform density 1, then the mass is the density times the area which equals the area.  What if the density is not constant.  Suppose that the density is given by the continuous function 

        Density  =  r(x,y)

In this case we can cut the region into tiny rectangles where the density is approximately constant.  The area of mass rectangle is given by 

        Mass  =  (Density)(Area)  =  r(x,y) Dx D

You probably know where this is going.  If we add all to masses together and take the limit as the rectangle size goes to zero, we get a double integral.

Mass

Let r(x,y) be the density of a lamina (flat sheet) R at the point (x,y).  Then the total mass of the lamina is the double integral

              

 

Example

A rectangular metal sheet with 2  <  x  < 5  and  0  <  y  <  3 has density function 

        r(x,y)  =  x + y

Set up the double integral that gives the mass of the metal sheet.

 

Solution

We just have the integral

       

 


Moments and Center of Mass

We have seen in first year calculus that the moments about an axis are defined by the product of the mass times the distance from the axis.  

        Mx  =  (Mass)(y)        My  =  (Mass)(x)

If we have a region R with density function r(x,y), then we do the usual thing.  We cut the region into small rectangles for which the density is constant and add up the moments of each of these rectangles.  Then take the limit as the rectangle size approaches zero.  This will give us the total moment.  

Definition of Moments of Mass and Center of Mass

Suppose that r(x,y) is a continuous density function on a lamina R.  Then the moments of mass are 

                             

and if M is the mass of the lamina, then the center of mass is 

                   

 

Example

Set up the integrals that give the center of mass of the rectangle with vertices (0,0), (1,0), (1,1), and (0,1) and density function proportional to the square of the distance from the origin.  Use a calculator or computer to evaluate these integrals.

 

Solution

The mass is given by 

       

The moments are given by 

       

These evaluate to 

        Mx  =  5k/12        and       My  =  5k/12

It should not be a surprise that the moments are equal since there is complete symmetry with respect to x and y.  Finally, we divide to get

        (x,y)  =  (5/8,5/8)

This tells us that the metal plate will balance perfectly if we place a pin at (5/8,5/8)

 


Moments of Inertia

We often call Mx and My the first moments.  They have first powers of y and x in their definitions and help find the center of mass.  We define the moments of inertia (or second moments) by introducing squares of y and x in their definitions.  The moments of inertia help us find the kinetic energy in rotational motion.  Below is the definition

Moments of Inertia

Suppose that r(x,y) is a continuous density function on a lamina R.  Then the moments of inertia are 

                             

 

Exercise 

Find the moments of inertia for the previous square metal plate.

 


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