5.2.3

Centre of Mass

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Centre of Mass - Examples

Although the mass of an object is spread out across its body, it is possible to find a single point where all of the mass appears to be. This point is called the object’s centre of mass.

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All in a single point

  • The centre of mass is the point through which an object’s weight appears to act.
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Hanging objects

  • If an object is hung from a string, it will hang with its centre of mass directly below the point that it is hung from.
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Toppling over

  • An object will fall over if its centre of mass is outside its base.
  • An object will fall off a surface if its centre of mass isn’t over the surface.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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