Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Faculty of Engineering, University Putra Malaysia

EMM 3802
Engineering Materials and Statics Laboratory

Title

: Report of CENTER OF GRAVITY

Group Members :
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Kok Yin Hui

Muhammad Hakim Bin Arif Fadzilah
Fatin Najihah Binti Mat Ali
Michelle Anne Anak Jimun
Hamdi Bin Nik Musa
Noraini Binti Md Isa

167027
167403
168435
168799
168905
169697

Lecturer

: Dr. Che Nor Aiza binti Jaafar

Demonstrator

: Ms. Siti Ujila Masuri

Submission Date : 10th October 2012

1.0

INTRODUCTION AND THEORITICAL BACKGROUND

Center of gravity is defined as a geometric property of any object where
all the weight of the objects can be considered to be concentrated. A body is
composed of an infinite number of particles of differential size and is located
within a gravitational field. Then, each of these particles will have a weight .A
parallel force system will form and the result of this system is the total weight of
the body which passes through a single point which is the center of gravity. In this
experiment, we learn two methods in determining the center of gravity of several
asymmetric shapes, which are through experimental measurements and theory
calculations.
The first method is through plum line method, which also known as
experimental method. The body is held by a pin inserted at a point near the bodys
parameter so as to let it freely rotate around the pin. Then, the plumb line is
dropped from the pin. Trace the plumline on the body and then step is repeat
begin with the new point until the intersection of the lines is found which is the
center of gravity.

Figure 1: Steps in Plumb line method

Another way is by using geometric decomposition which is used to locate
the centroid of the body.

Where, x: coordinate of x-axis

y: coordinate of y-axis
A: area

2.0

EXPERIMENTAL OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are to measure the center of gravity for
asymmetrical shape using different methods which is the experiment
measurements and theory calculations. Through experiment measurement, plumb
line method is applied whereas for theory calculations, geometric decomposition
is used.
Besides that, another objective is to relate between the effect of density
and shapes in determining the center of gravity. It is important that both density
and shape should be even so that we can get the precise value of the center of
gravity of the asymmetrical shape.

3.0

LAB APPARATUS

Marker pen (was used for the outlining the line on the three different shapes).
Ruler, paper and eraser (were used for the drawing of the three different shapes).
Asymmetrical set (was used as the object samples for measuring the center of
gravity).
Plumbline apparatus (were used for measuring the center of gravity).

Plane board
Plumb line
Asymmetrical
set
Plumb bob

Figure 2: Experimental apparatus

4.0

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. The plumbline apparatus was set up for the experiment. (as shown in Figure 2)
2. The center of the gravity was measured on three different shapes using the
plumbline method.
3. For the theory section, the center of the gravity was calculated for the three
different shapes from the previous step using the equation below.

4. The centroid coordinate from both methods were compared.

5.0

RESULT, ANALYSIS AND CALCULATION

Bodies 1:

The coordinate of center of gravity found using plumbline method: (103mm, 93mm).

The coordinate of center of gravity found using calculation method: (100mm,100mm)

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The different of center of gravity in x-coordinate: 103mm-100mm=3mm

The different of center of gravity in y-coordinate: 100mm-93mm=7mm

Bodies 2:

The coordinate of center of gravity found using plumbline method: (38mm, 0mm).

The coordinate of center of gravity found using calculation method: (100mm,100mm)

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The different of center of gravity in x-coordinate: 39.89mm-38mm=1.89mm

The different of center of gravity in y-coordinate: 0mm-0mm=0mm

Bodies 3:

The coordinate of center of gravity found using plumbline method: (100.5mm, 61.5mm).

The coordinate of center of gravity found using calculation method: (100mm,100mm)

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The different of center of gravity in x-coordinate: 100mm-100.5mm=0.5mm

The different of center of gravity in y-coordinate: 62.55mm-61.5mm=1.05mm

6.0

DISCUSSION

1. Is there a difference between the centroid coordinate obtained from these

two methods? If yes, please discuss why.
There is a difference between the results obtained from calculation method and
experimental method (Plumbline method) because experimental method subjects
to environmental influences and affect its accuracy. The environmental influences
include the friction between the bodies and the plane board, and the friction
between the bodies and hanging knot will affect the bodies from perfect free
hanging, thus results in different center of gravity. Besides, the air movement
during conducting the experiment will create minor imbalance forces act on
bodies surface, this will also gives an inaccurate center of gravity. Moreover, the
human error in drawing the straight line on the bodies during free hanging is very
skill dependent, moreover, the course marker pens tip is also reducing the
accuracy of center of gravity.
2. What are the other methods available to determine the centroid for
asymmetrical shapes? Please discuss in details with example for ONE method.
Another method in determining the center of gravity of an object is through
simple balancing method. It is carried out by balancing the object on another
object with small contact surface between them. The contact surface is where the
center of gravity located. For example like placing an object onto the flat surface
of a small cylindrical part (as shown below). For more precision, we should note
down the area of surface contact and continue the experiment trying with smaller
and smaller contact surface. However, this experiment is encouraged to be carried
out in a closed room with minimum air movement disturbance for better result
accuracy.
Object

3. In what situation will the plumbline method be more precise in determining

the centre of gravity compared to the equation calculation?
The plumline method will be more precise if applied on object with uneven
thickness or uneven density distribution. If the object measured is designed in

uneven thickness of uneven density, more consideration have to be included for

the calculation method and thus will comes out complicated calculation as well,
thus, chances of making mistake is greater. Besides, some complex shapes object
is also encouraged to use plumbline method in finding the center of gravity to
avoid complicated calculation.
4. What is the correlation between density and shape in calculating the center
of gravity?
Density means mass per unit volume. If the density of an object is uneven
distribute, the center of gravity will be located more toward the denser part
because that particular part results in higher mass value. Similarly, the center of
gravity will also locate at the side of larger shape object. For example of object
drawn below (assumed top view of object with 10mm thickness), the center of
gravity will locate toward the right because it has larger shape of size which
results in heavier mass value. In conclusion, center of gravity grows towards
denser and larger shapes side of object.

Suspected
center of gravity

5. Discuss any possible error occurred during experiment.

Parallax error: This error may occur when the eye of the observer is not
perpendicular to the object. It may cause them to accidently constructing the line
when the shapes still hanging on the plumbline incorrectly.
Object error: The marker pen used for the experiment is more likely to have thick
tip which may cause the constructed line for center of gravity to be in
disproportion. This can cause the center of gravity to be inaccurately measured
when the constructed lines are already misallocated.
Nature error: This error may happen during the experiment when the wind from
the surrounding blows the hanging shape on the plumbline apparatus. This can
cause the center of gravity slightly misplace and cause the observer to measure it
imperfectly.

7.0

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment, we can conclude that center of gravity is the point at
where the entire weight of the object concentrated, in another word, it is the point
in balancing the object as well. Locating the center of gravity can be done in two
methods which are plumbline method and geometry decomposition calculation.
Both the methods have its pros and cons, and the results obtained are slightly
different. This can be explained as the result of surrounding disturbance during
plumbline method, which included air movement, friction between plane board
and object, friction between hanging pin and object and some human errors. For
the calculation method, it is more precise and efficient as it does not require any
apparatus. However, the calculation method is limited to simple objects, in which
complex shape objects or objects with uneven thickness and density may cause
difficulty in calculate.
In engineering field, center of gravity is important as to ensure an object design
with high stability. For example, stability of an automobile is extremely important
to the driver especially during making a sharp corner or emergency brake in order
to ensure the safety of the user. Thus mastering the basic knowledge about the
center of gravity is achieved in this lab.