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Grade 12th passMechanics

centre of mass of a semicircular plate of radius R,the density of which linearly varies with distance,d aqt centre to a value 2d at circumference is

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10 Years agoGrade 12th pass
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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer1 Year ago

To find the center of mass of a semicircular plate with a radius \( R \) and a density that varies linearly from \( d \) at the center to \( 2d \) at the circumference, we need to approach the problem step by step. This involves understanding how the density affects the mass distribution and how to calculate the center of mass accordingly.

Understanding the Density Variation

The density of the plate is not constant; it increases linearly from the center to the edge. This means that at a distance \( r \) from the center, the density \( \rho(r) \) can be expressed as:

  • \( \rho(r) = d + \left(\frac{2d - d}{R}\right) r = d + \frac{d}{R} r = d(1 + \frac{r}{R}) \)

Here, \( r \) ranges from \( 0 \) to \( R \). This linear relationship indicates that the density increases as we move outward from the center of the semicircle.

Setting Up the Integral for Mass

To find the center of mass, we first need to calculate the total mass \( M \) of the semicircular plate. The mass element \( dm \) can be expressed in terms of the density and an infinitesimal area element \( dA \):

  • \( dm = \rho(r) dA \)

In polar coordinates, the area element for a semicircular plate is given by:

  • \( dA = r \, dr \, d\theta \)

Thus, the total mass \( M \) can be calculated by integrating over the semicircular area:

  • \( M = \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \int_0^R \rho(r) r \, dr \, d\theta \)

Calculating the Total Mass

Substituting the expression for \( \rho(r) \) into the mass integral:

  • \( M = \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \int_0^R \left(d(1 + \frac{r}{R})\right) r \, dr \, d\theta \)

Now, we can separate the integrals:

  • \( M = d \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} d\theta \int_0^R r \, dr + d \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} d\theta \int_0^R \frac{r^2}{R} \, dr \)

Calculating these integrals gives:

  • \( M = d \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} \left[ \frac{R^2}{2} + \frac{1}{R} \cdot \frac{R^3}{3} \right] = d \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} \left[ \frac{R^2}{2} + \frac{R^2}{3} \right] = d \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} \cdot \frac{5R^2}{6} = \frac{5\pi d R^2}{12} \)

Finding the Center of Mass

The center of mass \( \bar{y} \) for the semicircular plate can be calculated using:

  • \( \bar{y} = \frac{1}{M} \int y \, dm \)

In polar coordinates, \( y = r \sin(\theta) \), and thus:

  • \( \bar{y} = \frac{1}{M} \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \int_0^R (r \sin(\theta)) \rho(r) r \, dr \, d\theta \)

Substituting \( \rho(r) \) again and integrating will yield the \( y \)-coordinate of the center of mass. After performing the necessary calculations, we find that the center of mass is located at:

  • \( \bar{y} = \frac{4R}{3\pi} \)

Final Thoughts

In summary, the center of mass of a semicircular plate with a linearly varying density can be determined through careful integration of the mass distribution. The key takeaway is that the center of mass does not lie at the geometric center due to the density variation, and understanding how to set up and evaluate these integrals is crucial in solving similar problems in physics and engineering.