Chap. I. MECHANICS AND STATICS.

345
wliat distance the point G is to be placed, we must multijily twice the radius CE by the
cliord AB, and divide the product by thrice the length of the arc AEB. The quotient
is the distance CG from the centre C of the circle of the centre of gravity of tlie sector.
1 279. To find the centre of
j.
gravity of the crown portion of
an arch DAEBF {Ji^. 540.)
comprised between two concen-
tric axes, we must

1. Find the centre of gravity

of the greater sector AEBC,
and that of the smaller one
DFG.
2. Multiply the area of each
of these sectors by the distance
of their respective centres of gravity from the common centre C.
.'5.
Subtract the smaller product from the greater, and divide the remainder by the area
of DAEBF; the quotient will give the distance of the centre of gravity G from the
centre C.
1280. To determine the centre of gravity of the segment AEB ; subtract the product of
the area of the triangle ABC (Jii/. 541.) multiplied by the distance of its centre of gravity
from the centre C, from the product of the area of the sector,
by the distance of its centre of gravity fi-om the same point C,
and divide the remainder by the area AEB
;
the quotient ex-
jiresses the distance of the centre of gravity G of the segment
from the centre C, which is to be set out on the radius, and
which divides the segment into two equal i)arts.
~'-~,^
;
,'''
It would, from want of space, be inconvenient to give the strict
"c
'
demonstrations of the above rules ; nor, indeed, is it absolutely
Fi 541.
necessary for the architectural student. Those who wish to
pursue the subject au fund,
will, of course, consult more abstruse works on the matter.
W'e will merely observe, that whatever the figure whose centre of gravity is sought, it
is only necessary to divide it into triangles, sectors, or segments, and proceed as above
described for the pentagon, jfy. 538.
OF THE CEKTKE OK GRAVITY OF SOLIDS.
1281. It is supposed in the following considerations, that solids are composed of homo-
geneous particles whose weight in every part is uniform. They are here arranged under
two heads, regular and irregular.
1282. Regular solids are considered as composed of elements of the same figure as their
base, placed one upon the other, so that all their centres of gravity are in a vertical line,
v/hich we shall call the right axis. Thus parallelopipeds, prisms, cylinders, pyramids,
cones, conoids, spheres, and spheroids have a right axis, whereon their centre of gravity is
found.
1 283. In parallelopipeds, prisms, cylinders, spheres, spheroids, the centre of gravity is
in the middle of the right axis, because of the similarity and symmetry of their parts
equally distant from that point.
1284. In pyramids and cones
(Jiffs.
542, 543.), which diminish gradually from the base
to the apex, the centre of gravity is at
the distance of one fourth of the axis
^
from the base.
"
../:
1285. In paraboloids, which diminish
less on account of their curvature, the
centre of gravity is at the height of one
third the axis above the base.
To find the centre of a pyramid or of
a truncated cone
(fffs.
542, 543.), we
must first multiply the cube of the entire
cone or pyramid by the distance of its
centre of gravity from the vertex. 2.
Subtract from this product that of the
part MS 11 which is cut off, by the dis-
tance of its centre of gravity from the
apex. 3. Divide this remainder by the
cube of the truncated pyramid or cone
;
the quotient will be the distance of the
cone or pyramid from its apex.
Fig. 542. Fig. 513
centre of gravity G of the part of the truncated