34^5

THEORY OF ARCliriECTUUE. Hook II.

Fit;. aM.
12SG. 'Jhe centre of gravity of a liemisphLTL' is at tlie distaiic'L' of three eiglitlis of the
radius from the centre.
^
1287. The centre of gravity of tlie segment of a sphere
{fig-
544.)
=^^^l^fc==.
is found by the following proportion : as thrice the radius less the
,Mr'
- ^i
thickness of the segment is to the diameter less three quarters the
thickness of the segment, so is that thickness to a fourth term which
expresses tlie distance from the vertex to the centre of gravity, set ofF
on the radius which serves as the axis.
1288. Thus, making r= the radius, e= the thickness of the
segment, and x= the distance sought, we have, according to La
Caille,

3re ; 2r

-r
..e . x, whence x = -r7,

, .
Suppose the radius to be 7 feet, the thickness of the segment 3 feet, we shall have

x=-j,^
y^
^-,
which gives x =\
+p
= l
+ 1^,
equal the distance
of the centre of gravity from its vertex on the radius.
1289. To find the centre of gravity of the zone of a sjihere (jig.
5^5.),
the same sort of
operation is gone through as for truncated cones and pyramids ; that
is, after having found the centre of gravity of the segment cut off, and
that in which the zone is comprised, multiply the cube of each by
the distance of its centre of gravity from the apex A, and subtract-
ing the smaller from the larger product, divide the remainder by the
cube of the zone. Thus, supposing, as before, the radius AC=
7, the
thickness of the zone =2, and that of the segment cut off
=H,
we
shall find the distance from the vertex of the centre of gravity of
this last by the formula a:= r
1"*^'!
,
which in this case gives x
=
and pursuing the investigation, we have a.'
=
|{j
4x2x7xU
iVo^r ''iT\
~
>
ii^ ^uioiiiii^ i,iic iiivcatii^aLiuii, *vc iiavc
j^'^-r.rtf
which will be the distance of the centre of gravity from the vertex A. That of the centre
of gravity of the segment in which the zone is comprised will, according to the same for-
mula, be x=

i^sif'i'^*'
^^liich gives x =2 + \'^ for the distance of the centre of gravity
from the same point A.
1290. The methods of finding the solidities of the bodies involved in the above inves
tigation are to be found in the preceding section, on Mensuration.
E
A
'/
/
K
y
... J
y^
-
. 1
i/
/
y
-
1 Xi^
/
L
or THE CENTRE OF GKAVITV OF IRKEGULAR SOLIDS.
1291. As all species of solids, whatever their form, are susceptible of division into
pyramids, as we have seen in the preceding observations, it follows that their centres of
gravity may be found by following out the instruc-
c d
k
tions already given. Instead of two lines at right
angles to each other, let us suppose two vertical
planes N AC, CEF(y?9.
546.), between which the solid
G is placed. Carrying to each of those planes the
momenta of their pyramids, that is, the products of
their solidity, and the distances of their centres of
gravity, divide the sum of these products for each
plane by the whole solidity of the body, the quotient
will express the distance of two other planes BKL,
DHI\I, parallel to those first named. Their inter-
section will give a line IP, or an axis of equilibriiun,
upon which the centre of gravity of the solid will
1
1.
oifi.
be found. To determine the point G, imagine a third plane NOP perpendicular to the pre-
ceding ones, that is, horizontal ; u])on which let the solid be supposed to stand. In respect
of this plane let the momenta of the pyramids be
found by also multiplying their solidity by the dis-
tance of their centres of gravity. Lastly, dividing
the sum of these products by the solidity of the en-
tire body, the quotient gives on the axis the dis-
tance PG of this third plane from the centre of
gravity of the irregular solid.
Mechanically, where two of the surfaces of a body
are parallel, the mode of finding the centre of gravity
is simple. Thus, if the body be hung up by any
point A
(^figs.
54 7, 548.), and a plumb line AB be
suspended from the same point, it will pass through
Fig. lAI. Klg 44H.