| Title: | Mathematics at DEC |
| Moderator: | RUSURE::EDP |
| Created: | Mon Feb 03 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2083 |
| Total number of notes: | 14613 |
I am looking to solve a problem with center of mass (gravity). If I
take a set of point masses in 3-D space with each mass equal to a unit
(1) mass and coords (x,y,z), how do I find the coords of the center
of gravity of the distribution of masses ? I have found the standard
methods for center of gravity, but they all seem to integrate on
continuous functions. I don't follow how to apply something analogous
for a discontinuous set of point masses.
Any help is much appreciated.Cross-posted in PHYSICS.
Thanks,
Frank
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1740.1 | CSC32::D_DERAMO | Dan D'Eramo, Customer Support Center | Mon Apr 12 1993 19:37 | 19 | |
For masses m(i) at position (x(i), y(i), z(i)), i = 1,2,...,n
the center of mass (X,Y,Z) is just the weighted average
m(1) x(1) + m(2) x(2) + ... + m(n) x(n)
X = ---------------------------------------
m(1) + m(2) + ... + m(n)
m(1) y(1) + m(2) y(2) + ... + m(n) y(n)
Y = ---------------------------------------
m(1) + m(2) + ... + m(n)
m(1) z(1) + m(2) z(2) + ... + m(n) z(n)
Z = ---------------------------------------
m(1) + m(2) + ... + m(n)
i.e., X = sum( m(i) x(i) ) / sum(m(i))
Dan
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