Brain freeze here... say I have a square plate of uniform density and \even thickness whose dimensions are 8m x 8m, and whose center of mass is at (0,0). Now, I cut out a 3m x 3m piece centered on the x axis from the right side of the plate. How do I determine the new center of mass of the original piece?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Ah, I think I might have an idea now...I suppose I could look at the original plate before the cut as having a mass of 1 unit and the cutout as having a fraction of that mass. We'll see.

anonymous · Answer

let xi and yi be the centre of mass of the original plate....and x2 and y2 be the centre of mass of the plate that is  cut out...then the centre of mass u require is given by
$$x= \frac{ x1m1-x2m2 }{ m1-m2 } $$ 
and find the y co ordinate similarly...

anonymous · Answer

where m1 and m2 is mass

anonymous · Answer

Perfect, thanks! If I hadn't mistakenly put m1*m2 in the denominator, I think I'd have gotten there faster. :)

anonymous · Answer

u r welcome....