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Parents Pricing Home Leaving Cert Applied Maths Centre of Gravity Particles of weight 5 N, 2 N, 3 N and 8 N are placed at the points \((p, q), (7, p), (-2, q)\) respectively
Particles of weight 5 N, 2 N, 3 N and 8 N are placed at the points \((p, q), (7, p), (-2, q)\) respectively - Leaving Cert Applied Maths - Question 6 - 2019 Question 6
View full question Particles of weight 5 N, 2 N, 3 N and 8 N are placed at the points \((p, q), (7, p), (-2, q)\) respectively. The co-ordinates of the centre of gravity of the system ... show full transcript
View marking scheme Worked Solution & Example Answer:Particles of weight 5 N, 2 N, 3 N and 8 N are placed at the points \((p, q), (7, p), (-2, q)\) respectively - Leaving Cert Applied Maths - Question 6 - 2019
Find (i) the value of p Only available for registered users.
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To determine the value of (p), we will use the formula for the centre of gravity (CG):
CG x = ∑ ( m i ⋅ x i ) ∑ m i \text{CG}_x = \frac{\sum (m_i \cdot x_i)}{\sum m_i} CG x = ∑ m i ∑ ( m i ⋅ x i )
Where:
(m_i) is the weight of each particle,
(x_i) is the x-coordinate of each particle.
We know:
Total weight = 5 N + 2 N + 3 N + 8 N = 18 N
The x-coordinate of CG is given as 2:
2 = 5 ( p ) + 2 ( 7 ) + 3 ( − 2 ) + 8 ( 1 ) 18 2 = \frac{5(p) + 2(7) + 3(-2) + 8(1)}{18} 2 = 18 5 ( p ) + 2 ( 7 ) + 3 ( − 2 ) + 8 ( 1 )
Expanding:
2 = 5 p + 14 − 6 + 8 18 2 = \frac{5p + 14 - 6 + 8}{18} 2 = 18 5 p + 14 − 6 + 8
2 = 5 p + 16 18 2 = \frac{5p + 16}{18} 2 = 18 5 p + 16
Cross-multiplying gives:
36 = 5 p + 16 36 = 5p + 16 36 = 5 p + 16
$$ 5p = 20 \implies p = 4. $
Find (ii) the value of q Only available for registered users.
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Now, to find the value of (q), we apply the same concept using the y-coordinate:
Given that the y-coordinate of CG is 0:
0 = 5 ( q ) + 2 ( 6 ) + 3 ( q ) + 8 ( − 6 ) 18 0 = \frac{5(q) + 2(6) + 3(q) + 8(-6)}{18} 0 = 18 5 ( q ) + 2 ( 6 ) + 3 ( q ) + 8 ( − 6 )
Expanding:
0 = 5 q + 12 + 3 q − 48 18 0 = \frac{5q + 12 + 3q - 48}{18} 0 = 18 5 q + 12 + 3 q − 48
0 = 8 q − 36 18 0 = \frac{8q - 36}{18} 0 = 18 8 q − 36
Cross-multiplying gives:
$$ 0 = 8q - 36 \implies 8q = 36 \implies q = 4.5. $
Find the co-ordinates of the centre of gravity for the quadrilateral lamina Only available for registered users.
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To find the centre of gravity for the quadrilateral lamina, we first confirm the areas of triangles formed:
Area of triangle (abc):
Area = 1 2 × base × height = 1 2 × 6 × 6 = 18. \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 6 \times 6 = 18. Area = 2 1 × base × height = 2 1 × 6 × 6 = 18.
Using the centre of gravity formula:
( \text{CG}_{abc} = (2, 5) ).
Area of triangle (acd):
Area = 1 2 × 12 × 9 = 54. \text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times 12 \times 9 = 54. Area = 2 1 × 12 × 9 = 54.
Using the coordinates for CG:
( \text{CG}_{acd} = (6, 3). $$
Total area of the lamina = Area of (abc + acd = 18 + 54 = 72. $$
Thus, for the final coordinates:
( 72 ) ( x ) = 54 ( 6 ) + 18 ( 2 ) ⟹ x = 5. (72)(x) = 54(6) + 18(2) \implies x = 5. ( 72 ) ( x ) = 54 ( 6 ) + 18 ( 2 ) ⟹ x = 5.
( 72 ) ( y ) = 54 ( 3 ) + 18 ( 5 ) ⟹ y = 3.5. (72)(y) = 54(3) + 18(5) \implies y = 3.5. ( 72 ) ( y ) = 54 ( 3 ) + 18 ( 5 ) ⟹ y = 3.5.
Therefore, the co-ordinates of the centre of gravity are ((5, 3.5)).
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