Centroid facts for kids

The centroid (say: SEN-troid) is a special point in mathematics and physics. Think of it as the perfect balancing point of a shape or object. It's also called the geometric center.

The centroid of a triangle is its balancing point.

For a flat shape, the centroid is like the average position of all the points inside it. Imagine you cut out a shape from cardboard. The centroid is the exact spot where you could balance that cutout perfectly on the tip of a pin.

This idea works for shapes in 3D space too, not just flat ones. It's still the average spot of all its points.

Sometimes, in geometry, the centroid is also called the barycenter. But in astronomy, the barycenter means something different. It's the center of mass where two or more space objects, like planets or stars, balance each other as they orbit around it.

In physics, a similar idea is the center of mass. This is the average position of all points in an object, but it also considers how heavy or dense each part is. If an object has the same weight or density everywhere, then its center of mass is the same as its centroid.

In geography, the centroid of a region on Earth's surface is called its geographical center.

See also

In Spanish: Centroide para niños