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Homework Help: Center of mass

  1. Sep 10, 2005 #1

    denian

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    i dont understand how can the center of mass = (L/4, L/4)
    the hint is provided. based on the hint, i would write the answer is (L/2, L/2)


    :confused:
     

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    Last edited: Sep 10, 2005
    denian, Sep 10, 2005
  2. jcsd
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  3. Sep 10, 2005 #2

    Doc Al

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    Staff: Mentor

    The center of mass of each rod is right in the middle of the rod. One is at (L/2, 0), the other at (0, L/2). So, for the purpose of finding the center of mass of the entire structure, you can treat the mass of each rod as being right at those points. Where's the center of mass of two equal masses?
     
    Doc Al, Sep 10, 2005
  4. Sep 12, 2005 #3

    denian

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    thank you

    got it! thanks!
     
    denian, Sep 12, 2005
  5. Sep 12, 2005 #4

    Theoretician

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    The way that I approached it was picking the point (L,0) and calculating the moments about this point using the centres of mass of the two separate rods (M*0.5*L+M*L) this has to be equal to the total mass acting at the centre of mass x coordinate (2.0*M*x). x is found to be 0.75*L and we have our answer.
     
    Theoretician, Sep 12, 2005
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