Center of Mass and Moments of Inertia in Three Dimensions
All the formulas we developed for double integrals can be extended to triple integrals for three-dimensional objects.
Mass of a Three-Dimensional Solid
For a solid object [latex]Q[/latex] in three-dimensional space with density function [latex]\rho(x,y,z)[/latex] at any point [latex](x, y, z)[/latex], the total mass is:
[latex]m = \iiint_Q \rho(x,y,z) dV[/latex]
Two-Dimensional Mass Formula
For a lamina (flat plate) occupying region [latex]R[/latex] with density [latex]\rho(x,y)[/latex]:
[latex]m = \iint_R \rho(x,y) dA[/latex]
The three-dimensional formula follows the same pattern, but we integrate over volume [latex]dV[/latex] instead of area [latex]dA[/latex].
Moments in Three Dimensions
The moments of the solid about the three coordinate planes are:
Just as with laminas, if the solid object is homogeneous (has constant density), then the center of mass becomes the centroid of the solid—the geometric center independent of the density value.
Moments of Inertia in Three Dimensions
The moments of inertia about the three coordinate planes are:
These represent the squared distance from each axis.
Suppose that [latex]Q[/latex] is a solid region bounded by [latex]x+2y+3z=6[/latex] and the coordinate planes and has density [latex]{\rho}{({x},{y},{z})} = {{x}^{2}}{y}{z}[/latex]. Find the total mass.
The region [latex]Q[/latex] is a tetrahedron (Figure 1) meeting the axes at the points [latex](6, 0, 0)[/latex], [latex](0, 3, 0)[/latex], and [latex](0, 0, 2)[/latex]. To find the limits of integration, let [latex]z=0[/latex] in the slanted plane [latex]{z} = {\frac{1}{3}}{({6} - {x} - {{2}{y}})}[/latex]. Then for [latex]x[/latex] and [latex]y[/latex] find the projection of [latex]Q[/latex] onto the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane, which is bounded by the axes and the line [latex]x+2y=6[/latex]. Hence the mass is
Figure 1. Finding the mass of a three-dimensional solid [latex]Q[/latex].
Suppose [latex]Q[/latex] is a solid region bounded by the plane [latex]x+2y+3z=6[/latex] and the coordinate planes with density [latex]{\rho}{({x},{y},{z})} = {{x}^{2}}{y}{z}[/latex] (see Figure 1). Find the center of mass using decimal approximation. Use the mass found in Example “Finding the Mass of a Solid”.
We have used this tetrahedron before and know the limits of integration, so we can proceed to the computations right away. First, we need to find the moments about the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane, the [latex]xz[/latex]-plane, and the [latex]yz[/latex]-plane:
The center of mass for the tetrahedron [latex]Q[/latex] is the point [latex]{({2.25},{0.75},{0.5})}.[/latex]
Suppose that [latex]Q[/latex] is a solid region and is bounded by [latex]x+2y+3z=6[/latex] and the coordinate planes with density [latex]{\rho}{({x},{y},{z})} = {{x}^{2}}{y}{z}[/latex] (see Figure 1). Find the moments of inertia of the tetrahedron [latex]Q[/latex] about the [latex]yz[/latex]-plane, the [latex]xz[/latex]-plane, and the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane.
Once again, we can almost immediately write the limits of integration and hence we can quickly proceed to evaluating the moments of inertia. Using the formula stated before, the moments of inertia of the tetrahedron [latex]Q[/latex] about the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane, the [latex]xz[/latex]-plane, and the [latex]yz[/latex]-plane are
Thus, the moments of inertia of the tetrahedron [latex]Q[/latex] about the [latex]yz[/latex]-plane, the [latex]xz[/latex]-plane, and the [latex]xy[/latex]-plane are [latex]{117/35}, {684/35},[/latex] and [latex]{729/35}[/latex], respectively.