Finding the Center of Mass in an Equilateral Triangle with 3 Equal Masses

[jaded18]

3 equal masses lie at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side L. Where is the center of mass?

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i know center of mass in the x-axis is just 0 which is apparent from symmetry, but how would you figure out center of mass in the y axis? i keep getting 0.577 L . someone please make this clear to me??

 

[jaded18]

i'm picturing one of the vertices on the origin and the rest of the two vertices below the x-axis .. is this more clear?

 

[learningphysics]

3 equal masses lie at the corners of an equilateral triangle of side L. Where is the center of mass?

___
i know center of mass in the x-axis is just 0 which is apparent from symmetry, but how would you figure out center of mass in the y axis? i keep getting 0.577 L . someone please make this clear to me??

looks right to me... x = 0. y = -0.577L. why do you think this is wrong?

 

[jaded18]

hi again! well because the ans key says L/2(sqrt 3) .. but i feel much better that you came up with the same answer!