Finding Center of Mass - Plate with hole

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves determining the center of mass of a uniform circular plate with a circular hole cut out of it. The plate has a radius of 11 cm, and the hole has a radius of 3 cm, positioned along the x-axis at a distance of 4 cm from the origin.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to calculate the total area of the plate and the area of the hole, with some considering the implications of the hole on the center of mass. There are suggestions to visualize the hole as a mass that affects the overall balance of the plate.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of how the hole affects the center of mass. Some guidance has been offered regarding the conceptualization of the hole's impact, but there is no explicit consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion about translating their conceptual understanding into coordinate calculations, indicating a potential gap in the information or methods being discussed.

Bryon
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Homework Statement



https://wug-s.physics.uiuc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?cc/DuPage/phys2111/fall/homework/Ch-09-Momentum/plate_with_hole/3.gif

A uniform circular plate of radius 11 cm has a circular hole of radius 3 cm cut out of it. The center of the plate is at the origin of the coordinate system and the center of the hole is located along the x-axis a distance 4 cm from the origin.

What is the position of the center of mass of the plate with the hole in it?

Homework Equations



center mass = (m1x1 + m2x2)/ (m1 + m2)

Im really stumped with this one. I was thinking at first to find the total area of the plate and then subtract that from the area of the hole. I am at a loss with this one.
 
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Almost right - imagine the hole as equivalent to a piece of metal that size/shape/position on the opposite side of the balnace.
 
This one is really getting me. The center of mass will be away from the hole. Now to translate into coordinates.
 
Imagine the force * distance downward for the mass of the entire plate, now imagine the hole is a mass * force upward
 
So you essentially subract the larger mass from the other? I still don't see how to translate that into coordinates.
 

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