Centroid Explorer

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About This MicroSim

This interactive visualization demonstrates the centroid of a triangle - the intersection point of the three medians. The centroid is also known as the "center of mass" or "balance point" of the triangle.

Key Concepts

Medians

A median is a line segment connecting a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side. Every triangle has exactly three medians.

The Centroid (G)

• The centroid is always located inside the triangle
• It divides each median in a 2:1 ratio from vertex to midpoint
• It is the balance point where the triangle would balance on a pin

The 2:1 Property

Click on any median to see the 2:1 ratio visualization: - The distance from the vertex to the centroid is twice the distance from the centroid to the midpoint - This property holds for all three medians in any triangle

Interactions

• Drag vertices A, B, or C to reshape the triangle
• Click on a median to highlight it and see the 2:1 ratio
• Watch how the centroid position changes as you modify the triangle

Learning Objectives

• Understand that medians connect vertices to opposite midpoints
• Identify the centroid as the intersection of the three medians
• Recognize that the centroid is always inside the triangle
• Apply the 2:1 ratio property of medians

Bloom's Taxonomy Level

Understanding and Applying