Radius of Gyration: Dist to Axis & Mass Concentration

In summary: The center of mass is a point where the whole mass of an object could be concentrated and still have the same moment of inertia. The radius of gyration is a hypothetical point where the moment of inertia would be the same as the actual object, but the mass is not actually concentrated there. In summary, the center of mass and radius of gyration are both measures of where the mass is concentrated, but they are calculated differently and serve different purposes. The center of mass is a real point, while the radius of gyration is a hypothetical point.
  • #1
Zubair Ahmad
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For radius of gyration we say distance from axis to a point where would mass is concentrated. isn't that center of mass?
 
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  • #2
Not exactly. Both center of mass and radius of gyration are measures of where the mass is concentrated, but they are different. To compute radius of gyration, you have to integrate ##\int r^2 dm## where dm is the mass. To get center of mass you have to integrate ##\int \vec{r} dm##. Center of mass has three components; it is like a vector. Radius of gyration is a scalar (a simple number, not a vector).
 
  • #3
But physically we have a single point where we say whole mass is concentrated.
 
  • #4
Zubair Ahmad said:
For radius of gyration we say distance from axis to a point where would mass is concentrated. isn't that center of mass?
No, that is not the correct definition of radius of gyration. The radius of gyration, r, is the perpendicular distance to the axis of rotation of a point mass whose moment of inertia (I=mr^2) is the same moment of inertia of the actual object having that same mass. So say an object having 10 kg of mass with an I of 1000 kg-m^2 is equivalent to a point mass of 10 Kg located10 meters away from the axis, so r = 10 m. In other words, r = sq rt (I/m).
 
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  • #5
Zubair Ahmad said:
But physically we have a single point where we say whole mass is concentrated.
No, we have a single point where IF the whole mass was concentrated there, the moment of inertia would be equivalent to the moment of inertia of the object. A symmetrical object for example has its actual center of mass at the center of it at the rotation axis, but its radius of gyration is not 0, it is sq rt (I/m)
 
  • #6
So can we say physically there are two such points
 
  • #7
Zubair Ahmad said:
So can we say physically there are two such points
No, sir. The center of mass is real; the radius of gyration is imaginary
 

What is the radius of gyration?

The radius of gyration is a measure of the distribution of mass around an axis. It represents the distance from the axis at which the entire mass of an object could be concentrated to produce the same moment of inertia as the actual distribution of mass.

How is the radius of gyration calculated?

The radius of gyration can be calculated by taking the square root of the ratio of the moment of inertia of the object to its mass. It can also be calculated by dividing the length of the object by 2 for a point mass or by using the parallel axis theorem for a distributed mass.

What is the relationship between the radius of gyration and the mass concentration?

The radius of gyration and mass concentration have an inverse relationship. As the mass concentration increases, the radius of gyration decreases. This means that a more concentrated mass distribution has a smaller radius of gyration, while a more spread out mass distribution has a larger radius of gyration.

What is the significance of the radius of gyration in structural engineering?

The radius of gyration is an important factor in structural engineering as it helps determine the stability and strength of a structure. A smaller radius of gyration indicates a more compact and stable structure, while a larger radius of gyration can lead to instability and failure.

How does the radius of gyration affect the performance of rotating objects?

The radius of gyration is a key factor in the performance of rotating objects such as a spinning top or a rotating wheel. A smaller radius of gyration allows for faster rotation and smoother movement, while a larger radius of gyration can cause wobbling and instability.

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