The uniform sheet of siding shown has a centrally-located doorway of width 2.0 m and height 6.0 m cut out of it. The sheet, with the doorway hole, has a mass of 264 kg. (a) What is the x coordinate of the center of mass? (b) What is the y coordinate of the center of mass? Assume the lower left hand corner of the siding is at (0, 0).

The sheet is 12 x12.

1 answer

Because the shape is symmetrical on the x axis you can say that the center of mass on the x is 6. To find center of mass on the y, all you have to do it break the shape into two smaller shapes, find the center of masses of those individual shapes, and then find the center of mass of the system. You will get something like 6.2727 repeating. Sorry if this is hard to understand, and hope this helps someone!