Wednesday 24 August 2011

CENTROIDS OF LINES

CENTROID OF A STRAIGHT LINE


If we take a straight line of length (L), then its midpoint will be at a distance (L/2) from either end of the line. Let us denote the centroid as the point G(Xg,Yg).

Suppose we have a straight line AB of length (L) that makes an angle θ with X axis. Let the coordinate of point A is (Xo,Yo). Let the centroid be at G(Xg,Yg), then

Xg = Xo + (Lcos θ)/2
Yg = Yo + (Lsin θ)/2


                                                                                                                                                             

     Again, suppose the coordinate of B is given instead of point A. Let it is given as B(Xi,Yi). Then, it will be                                                       

Xg = X1 - (Lcos θ)/2
Yg = Y1 - (Lsin θ)/2

For Horizontal lines θ = 0° and for Vertical lines θ = 90°




CENTROID OF A CURVED LINE

The steps to derive the centroid of a quarter circular arc of radius R. 
 
Centroid of a curved line can be derived with the help of calculus.



i) Draw the figure in a X-Y coordinate system. Let the curved line has been represented by a function θ

ii) Take an arbitrary point P(X,Y) on the curve. Join the line OP, where O is the origin of the coordinate system. Let OP has a length L and makes an angle (θ) with X axis. Therefore, we can write

                  
                                   X = Rcosθ ----- (a)
                             Y = Rsinθ ----- (b)


iii) Let another point Q, such that PQ = dL where dL is very very small. Let the angle subtended by (dL) be (). So we can write

                                   dL = Rdθ ------ (c)

                             Xg = (1/L) ∫(XdL)
                                  = (1/L) ∫ Rcosθ.Rdθ
                                  = (1/L).R²  ∫ sinθ.dθ ------- (d)

                             Yg = (1/L) ∫ YdL
                                  = (1/L) ∫ Rsinθ.Rdθ
                                  = (1/L).R²  ∫ sinθ.dθ -------- (e)


CENTROID OF A QUARTER CIRCULAR ARC OF RADIUS R

Suppose we have a quarter circular arc in a co-ordinate system as shown in the figure. Total length of the arc AB = (πR)/2 . We take an arbitrarily small length of the arc CD and denote it as dL.

So,
           dL = Rdθ  ------ (iii)    [ as s=Rθ ]

where R = Radius of the quarter circular arc.
Let the co-ordinate of the point D be D(x,y) where
   
               X = Rcosθ -----(iv) and
            Y = Rsinθ -----(v)

Hence   Xg = (1/L)∫x.dL  ;  here  L = (πR)/2  ;        
                                           X = Rcosθ      
                                          dL = Rdθ
    

             Xg = (2/πR)   0π/2Rcosθ.Rdθ 

     =    (2/πR) R2  0π/2cosθ.dθ

 =      2R/π
   
   Yg = (2/πR)   0π/2Rsinθ.Rdθ 
     
 =      (2/πR) R2  0π/2sinθ.dθ

 =      2R/π


Hence, for a quarter circular arc of radius R will be G(2R/π,2R/π)                                                                

                                                                                      

CENTROID OF A COMPOSITE LINE


In the figure, a composite line A-B-C-D is made of three straight lines AB, BC, CD as shown in the figure.So, a composite line is consisted of several straight or curved lines.


Let a composite line is made of n number of lines, which may straight or curved lines.

STEP-ONE:

Draw the composite line and break it into n number of parts. Let the lengths of these lines are L1, L2,  L3 ........ Ln. Let the centroids of these lines are G1(X1,Y1),G2(X2,Y2), G3(X3,Y3) ........ Gn(Xn,Yn).

Calculate length (Li), and coordinates (Xi,Yi) for each and every parts.
 
Now, if the centroid of the composite line be G(Xg,Yg)

Xg = (∑LiXi)/(∑Li


    => (L1X1 + L2X2 + L3X3)/(L1 + L2 + L3)
   

Yg = (∑LiYi)/(∑Li)

    => (L1Y1 + L2Y2 + L3Y3)/(L1 + L2 + L3)
   

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