Published November 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

The centre of mass of a triangular plate

  • 1. Departamento de Fisica, Universidad Tecnica Federico, Santa MarIa, Casilla 110-V, ValparaIso (Chile)

Description

We present a derivation for the coordinates of the centre of mass-or centre of gravity-of a homogeneous triangular plate by using scaling and symmetry. We scale the triangular plate by a factor of 2 and divide its area into four plates identical to the original. By symmetry, we assert that the centre of mass of two identical masses lies at the midpoint of the line joining their centres of mass. By relating the centres of mass of the original to those of the scaled plates, we find the coordinates of the centre of mass as the solution of an algebraic equation

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/29/6/006

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/29/6/006;
PII
S0143-0807(08)86388-X;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Journal of Physics
Journal Volume
29
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 1177-1182
ISSN
0143-0807
CODEN
EJPHD4

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
40015909
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
CENTER-OF-MASS SYSTEM; COORDINATES; EQUATIONS; GRAVITATION; MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS; PLATES; SYMMETRY