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O
Y
1. Title: Weight Point
2. Aim: Determining the weight point of a plane
3. Base of The Theory
A rigid body consists of particles or parts that each of the particle has a certain
weight. If all weight of particles body are summed then will be obtained a weight . The
catch point of an objects weight force is called weight point.
To determine weight point of an object can be done by firstly expressing the
object in cartesian coordinates.
Suppose a body consists of particles that weighing w
1
, w
2
, w
3
, ........, w
n
and each
has coordinate in horizontal direction x
1
, x
2
, x
3
, ........, x
n
and in vertical direction y
1
, y
2
,
y
3
, ........, y
n
.













The resultant of weight force of particles is the weight of body (w) that has catch
point at Z with coordinate (x,y).
If all components of force at Y-axis can be changed by a force w
y
, with w
y
= that
has distance of X from Y-axis.
So that w
y
can replace all components of force, then its rotation effect (moment)
to Y-axis must be equal in large.

X
x
1
,y
1

x,y
x
2
,y
2

w
2

w
w
1

Figure 1. The weight of body w is the resultant
of their particles weight.
2

Where

So that

Or

In the same way can be determained coordinate in Y-axis can be determined

Or

Based on Newtons II law obtained the relation w = mg. It means w
1
= m
1
g, w
2
=
m
2
g, w
3
= m
3
g, and so on.
If this values are inserted into previous equation, then will be obtained.

For bodies with not too big geometric size, gravitational acceleration acting on
each particle is assummed to be equal. Gravitational acceleration in equation above can
be eliminated, so that the equation becomes.

In the same way we obtain

3

4. Instruments
4.1. Carton Paper
4.2. Scissors
4.3. Thread
4.4. Ruler
4.5. Load
4.6. Balance
4.7. Glue
4.8. Pen

5. Activity Steps
5.1. Cut the carton paper ramdomly with medium size.
5.2. Make two hole (A and B) on the edge of the carton paper by using the pen tip as
the port to enter the thread.
5.3. Tie the load on one of the thread and hang the thread through the hole A and give
the mark on the carton paper using the dashline along the position of the thread.
5.4. Repeat the step 5.3 for hole B.
5.5. The cut point of the dashlines from A and B is the position of the weigh point of
the plane. Give mark with Z
0
.
5.6. Cut the carton paper into two dissimilar size. But dont through Z
0
point.
5.7. Weigh the two parts of the cardboard with the balance (m
1
= ... gram dan m
2
= ...
gram) and then repeat steps 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 with the two carton just now. Give
name to the cut point of line A and B with Z
1
and Z
2
.
5.8. Take a piece of white paper, then combine and patch both of cutted carton paper
until the shape is same as before.
5.9. Make two cordinate axis (X-axis) and axle (Y-axis), than determine the
coordinate of Z
0
(X
0
; Y
0
), Z
1
(X
1
; Y
1
), and Z
2
(X
2
; Y
2
).
5.10. Using weight point formula, determine Z (X , Y) which is:

4

5.11. Compare the result of the experiment (Z
0
) with the calculation result of Z. What is
your conclution about this activity?
5.12. Make the written report.

6. The Data of Experiment Result
According to the experiment that we have done, we got several data that we can
present in the form of the table below:
The Result of Mass
Measurement
M
1
0.06 gram
M
2
0.15 gram

The Result of Experiment
X
1
6.9 cm X
2
11.7 cm X
0
10.4 cm
Y
1
7 cm Y
2
10.8 cm Y
0
10.1 cm
Z
1
(6.9 cm, 7 cm) Z
2
(11.7 cm, 10.8 cm) Z
0
(10.4 cm, 10.1 cm)

7. Data Analysis and Calculation
From the data that we have above, we can calculate the Z with the weight point
formula says that

and

.
When we compare the result of the experiment and the result of calculation that
using the weight point formula, we got similar result wich is the result of the experiment
is:
The Result of Calculation
(Using Weight Point Formula)
X

() ()

() ()

Z ( )
5

X
0
= 10.4 cm
Y
0
= 10.1 cm
Z
0
= (10.4 cm, 10.1 cm)

Where the result of the calculation is:
X= 10.33 cm
Y= 9.71 cm
Z= (10.33 cm, 9.71 cm)
According to that comparisson, we found small differentiation from those result.
And the differentiation is about 0.07 cm for the value of X
0
and 0.39 cm for the value of
Y
0
. Based on those differentiation, the precentage of failure from the experiment is:

, it mean the precentage of failure is about

0.68 % for the value of X
0

, it mean the precentage of failure is about

4.02 % for the value of Y
0

The difference above is caused by mistakes that we did during the experiment.
Such as mistake of accuracy during the measurement, precision measuring instruments,
and also because of the rounding with the measurement result.

8. Conclusion
Based on the result of the experiment and also the result of the calculation using
weight point formula, we found concluction that the result of the experiment and the
result of the calculation using weight point formula is similar.

9. Comments
It was our pleasure for finishing the experiment about weight point itself.
moreover, the result of the experiment is almost same with the result of the calculation
using the weight point formula. We are so proud of it, because we found that the result
our experiment has similarity with the result of the experiment that have done by the
scientist.
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We are not only talking about the result of the experiment. But, upon how we
done the experiment, about every knowledge that we have learn in the process of the
experiment.

10. Suggestions
We have many experience during the process of the experiment. Even the
experiment have done as perfect as possible. We hope that for the next experiment we use
more tools. For example, we need balance for weighing the mass of the carton paper. And
we need more preparation because we did the experiment at school. It will be better if we
planning the experiment (maybe one week before the day) so we could prepare the tools
such as scissors and glue. Because in this experiment, we need to borrow the scissors and
also we need to ask the glue to another group.