1.9: Hemispheres
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
Uniform solid hemisphere
Figure I.4 will serve. The argument is exactly the same as for the cone. The volume of the elemental slice is πy2δx=π(a2−x2)δx and the volume of the hemisphere is 2πa33 , so the mass of the slice is
M×π(a2−x2)δx÷(2πa/3)=3M(a2−x2)δx2a3
where M is the mass of the hemisphere. The first moment of mass of the elemental slice is x times this, so the position of the centre of mass is
¯x=32a3∫a0x(a2−x2)dx=3a8
Hollow hemispherical shell.
We may note to begin with that we would expect the centre of mass to be further from the base than for a uniform solid hemisphere.
Again, Figure I.4 will serve. The area of the elemental annulus is 2πaδx (NOT 2πyδx!) and the area of the hemisphere is 2πa2 . Therefore the mass of the elemental annulus is
M×2πaδx÷(2πa2)=Mδx/a
The first moment of mass of the annulus is x times this, so the position of the centre of mass is
¯x=∫a0xdxa=a2