Physics Revision : Centre of Mass

KEY POINTS ABOUT CENTRE OF MASS:

• The centre of mass hangs directly below the point of suspension
• The point where the weight (gravity) seems to act
• Point where the object balances
• The lower the centre of mass, the more stable the object will be
• The bugger the base the more stable the object will be

Finding the centre of mass:

• Hang the card on a pin near its edge
• Make sure the card is hanginf freely
• Use a pendulum to hang off the pin ad hang vertically down
• Use the pendulum to draw a line on the card vertically down
• Repeat this for another place near the edge of the card
• Where the lines cross is the centre of mass

Suspended objects are stable when their centre of mass is directly below the suspension point (where it is hung from)