Answer to Question #257990 in Physics for MCC

Question

Sam, Choi, Mich, Pia, and Sheen are on a 6’ x 4’ rectangular balsa. They are having trouble keeping the balsa balanced as they are unaware of their center of mass. Find their center of mass, given the following: Sam is at 3 feet east, and 2 feet north of the balsa’s geometric center. She weighs 78 kg. 

Answer 1

In general

$x=\frac{m_1x_1+m_2x_2+...+m_nx_n}{m_1+m_2+...+m_n}$ and $y=\frac{m_1y_1+m_2y_2+...+m_ny_n}{m_1+m_2+...+m_n}$ .

Data is specified for Sam, but not for his friends.

Therefore, more data are needed to determine the center of mass.