Question

Four objects are situated along the y axis as follows: a 1.93-kg object is at +2.91 m, a 2.95-kg object is at +2.43 m, a 2.41-kg object is at the origin, and a 3.99-kg object is at -0.496 m.
Where is the center of mass of these objects?

Answer 1

Answer:

0.958 m

Explanation:

So the total mass of the system is

M = 1.93 + 2.95 + 2.41 + 3.99 = 11.28  kg

let y be the distance from the center of mass to the origin. With the reference to the origin then we have the following equation

$My = m_1y_1 + m_2y_2 +m_3y_3 + m_4y_4$

$11.28y = 1.93*2.91 + 2.95*2.43 + 2.41*0 + 3.99*(-0.496) = 10.806$

$y = \frac{10.806}{11.28} = 0.958 m$

So the center of mass is 0.958 m from the origin