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Define the region by the usual set R of points in the plane. If the figure has
variable density (x, y) [or (r, ) in polar], we have a little chunk of mass given
by m = (xi, yi ) A, and a total mass of
ZZ
m=
(x, y) dA
R
If density is constant, we can pull it through the integral and have m = A in the
same way wed have m = V .
We can also define moments about the x and y axes. These are sometimes
called the first moments and should not be confused with moment of inertia
which is a bit different and a topic for another day. These moments are just your
moments in the sense of torque, measuring the tendency to rotate around each of
the axes. The lever arm is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and so
Mx =
ZZ
y(x, y) dA
R
My =
ZZ
x(x, y) dA
R
Example:
Find the center of mass of the lamina described by the region
R = {(x, y) | x 0, 0 y 9 x2 }
with density (x, y) = xy.
m=
ZZ
(x, y) dA =
3
0
9x2
xy dy dx
0
Inner:
Z
9x2
xy dy =
0
1 2 9x2
1
81
1
x y 0
= x(9 x2)2 = x 9x3 + x5
2
2
2
2
Outer:
3
Z 3
81
1 5
81 2 9 4
1 6
81
9
1
3
x 9x + x dx =
x x + x
= (9) (81) + (729) = 60.75
2
2
4
4
12
4
4
12
0
0
Mass is m = 60.75.
ZZ
Mx =
Inner:
Z 9x2
xy 2 dy =
y(x, y) dA =
R
9x2
y(xy) dy dx
1
1 3 9x2 1
x y 0
= x(9 x2)3 = x7 + 9x5 81x3 + 243x
3
3
3
Outer:
3
Z 3
1 7
1 8 3 6 81 4 243 2
2187
5
3
x + 9x 81x + 243x dx = x + x x +
x
=
= 273.375
3
24
2
4
2
8
0
0
Moment about x is Mx = 273.375.
ZZ
My =
x(x, y) dA =
3
0
9x2
x(xy) dy dx
0
Inner:
Z
9x2
x2 y dy =
0
1
1
81
1 2 2 9x2
x y 0
= x2(9 x2 )2 = x6 9x4 + x2
2
2
2
2
Outer:
3
Z 3
1 6
81 2
1 7 9 5 27 5 243 2
2916
4
x 9x + x dx =
x x + x +
x
=
83.314
2
2
14
5
2
2
35
0
0
Moment about y is My 83.314.
Center of mass:
(x, y) =
My Mx
,
m m
83.314 273.375
,
60.75 60.75
(1.37, 4.5)
Mxz =
Mxy =
ZZZ
y(x, y, z) dV
D
ZZZ
z(x, y, z) dV
D
Myz
m
y=
Mxz
m
z=
Mxy
m
Example:
Find the center of mass of the solid bounded by x = y 2 , z = x, z = 0, y = 0, x = 1
with density (x, y, z) = x + y + z.
This solid is the same one I used in the density/mass example, so weve already
got it sketched and the mass calculated.
D = {(x, y, z) | 0 x y 2 , 0 y 1, 0 z x}
m=
ZZZ
(x, y, z) dV =
D
1
0
y2
(x + y + z) dz dx dy
0
Mxz =
Mxy =
ZZZ
y(x, y, z) dV =
D
ZZZ
z(x, y, z) dV =
D
Z
Z
1
0
y2
y2
1
0
x(x + y + z) dz dx dy
0
Z
Z
y(x + y + z) dz dx dy
0
x
z(x + y + z) dz dx dy
0
Its not that any one of those integrals is particularly difficult to do, its just that to
do any center of mass problem, you have to do four separate integral calculations.
At three integrals each, thats twelve integrations to solve one problem. And the
introduction of the different variables x, y and z into the integrand means that
the integrations dont build off each other - each one has to be redone from scratch.
I...dont have the patience. You probably dont either. The expectation is that if
needed, yes, you could calculate each of those integrals, but sitting around working
twelve integration problems to solve one example isnt the best use of time. Hello,
Maple.
Maple informs me (code attached at end) that
1
y2
m=
1Z
y2
Myz =
0
y2
Mxz =
y2
Mxy =
Z 1Z
(x + y + z) dz dx dy =
13
84
x(x + y + z) dz dx dy =
1
12
y(x + y + z) dz dx dy =
15
112
z(x + y + z) dz dx dy =
19
432
md
d x, y, z dz dx dy;
0 0
13
84
(1)
1
12
(2)
15
112
(3)
19
432
(4)
7
13
(5)
45
52
(6)
133
468
(7)
1 y2 x
Myz d
x$d x, y, z dz dx dy;
0 0
1 y2 x
Mxz d
y$d x, y, z dz dx dy;
0 0
1 y2 x
Mxy d
z$d x, y, z dz dx dy;
0 0
xbar d
ybar d
zbar d
Myz
;
m
Mxz
;
m
Mxy
;
m