Calculating y-Coord of Center of Mass in Unique Shape

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the y-coordinate of the center of mass for a unique shape composed of squares, where each side length is denoted as 'a'. The initial calculation provided by the user, yielding 1.25a, was identified as incorrect. Participants emphasized the need to consider the areas of each section and their respective coordinates to accurately determine the center of mass.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of center of mass concepts in physics
  • Familiarity with area calculations for geometric shapes
  • Knowledge of coordinate systems and their application in physics
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the principles of calculating the center of mass for composite shapes
  • Study the method for integrating areas to find weighted averages
  • Learn about the application of coordinate geometry in physics problems
  • Practice solving similar problems involving irregular shapes and their centers of mass
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics and center of mass calculations, as well as educators seeking to clarify these concepts for their students.

phsyics_197
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Homework Statement


____
l _ l
l_l l_l

Find the y-coordinate of the center of mass. Each side l / _ is length a.
I got an answer of 1.25a, but that isn't right.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



Area of each section * x-coordinate of center of mass. (the area missing is negative)
Then divided by the total area
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi phsyics_197! Welcome to PF! :wink:
phsyics_197 said:
____
l _ l
l_l l_l

Find the y-coordinate of the center of mass. Each side l / _ is length a.
I got an answer of 1.25a, but that isn't right.

(hmm … I can see from the "QUOTE" box that that's supposed to be two squares on level 0, and three squares on level one)

Show us how you got 1.25, and then we can see what went wrong, and we'll know how to help! :smile:
 

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