Calculating center of mass and moment of inertia using integrals.

In summary, the conversation is about finding the center of mass and moment of inertia for objects using integrals. The formulas for both are provided and the person is looking for resources with practice problems and solutions. Several websites are suggested as helpful resources for these types of problems.
  • #1
m00npirate
50
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Homework Statement


I am very fuzzy about how to find the center of mass of an object and, similarly, the moment of inertia for an object using integrals. Here are the formulas as I remember them.

Center of mass: [tex](1/M) \int \vec{r} dm[/tex]
Moment of Inertia: [tex]\int R^{2} dm[/tex]

What I was wondering was whether anyone knew of any resources with practice problems of this type. Even better would be full solutions.

Types of questions have been to find the CoM for a rod with non-uniform density (with the equation for linear density given) or to find the moment of inertia for various normal shapes (by derivation, not memorization.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, sorry if this is the wrong forum for this!
 
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  • #3
EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you so much!

Any more would be helpful as well =]
 
  • #4
Thank you i too found those links very helpful.
 

FAQ: Calculating center of mass and moment of inertia using integrals.

What is the center of mass?

The center of mass is the average position of all the mass in a system. It is the point at which the mass of the system can be considered to be concentrated.

Why is calculating the center of mass important?

Calculating the center of mass allows us to understand how mass is distributed in a system. It is a crucial concept in physics and engineering, as it helps us determine the stability and motion of objects.

What is the moment of inertia?

The moment of inertia is a measure of an object's resistance to rotation. It is calculated using the mass distribution and the distance of the mass from the axis of rotation.

How do we calculate the center of mass and moment of inertia using integrals?

The center of mass can be found by taking the weighted average of the mass distribution in each direction, while the moment of inertia can be calculated by integrating the mass distribution over the entire system.

What are some real-life applications of calculating center of mass and moment of inertia?

Some common applications include designing stable structures, analyzing the motion of objects, and predicting the behavior of rotating systems such as wheels or propellers. It is also used in fields such as aerospace engineering, robotics, and sports science.

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