Center Of Mass Notes

Submitted By The2R1
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Center of Mass Notes
The Sum of Two Motions: a spin around this point and a movement through the air as if all the weight were concentrated at this point. This point is the center of gravity.
The center of gravity of an object is the point located at the object's average position of weight.
Center of gravity is often called center of mass, which is the average position of all the particles of mass that make up an object.
The center of gravity is abbreviated as "CG".
The CG of a uniform object is at the midpoint, it's geometric center (the balance point).
To locate the object's CG, construct a vertical line beneath the point of suspension. The CG lies somewhere on that line.
You can also locate the CG by suspending the object from some other point and constructing a second vertical line. The CG is where the two lines intersect.
The CG of an object may be located where no actual material exists.
Rule for Toppling: if the CG of an object is above the area of support, the object will remain upright. If the CG extends outside the area of support, the object will topple.
Equilibrium is unstable when the CG is lowered with displacement, stable when work must be done to raise the CG, and neutral when displacement neither raises nor lowers the CG.
We say an object that is balanced so that any displacement raises its center of gravity is in stable equilibrium.
When the CG is neither raised nor lowered with displacement, the object is in neutral equilibrium.
An object