Centre of Gravity (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Physics): Revision Note
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Centre of Gravity
The centre of gravity of an object is the point at which the weight of the object may be considered to act
For example, for a person standing upright, their centre of gravity is roughly in the middle of the body behind the navel, and for a sphere, it is at the centre
For symmetrical objects with uniform density, the centre of gravity is located at the point of symmetry
Centre of Gravity of Differently Shaped Objects
The centre of gravity of a shape can be found by symmetry
Stability
Stability
The position of the centre of gravity of an object affects its stability
An object is stable when its centre of gravity lies above its base
Stability of Objects
The object on the right will topple, as its centre of gravity is no longer over its base
The wider base an object has, the lower its centre of gravity and it is more stable
The narrower base an object has, the higher its centre of gravity and the object is more likely to topple over if pushed
Stability of Objects with Different Sized Bases
The most stable objects have wide bases and low centres of gravity
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Since the centre of gravity is a hypothetical point, it can lie inside or outside of a body. The centre of gravity will constantly shift depending on the shape of a body. For example, a human body’s centre of gravity is lower when learning forward than upright
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