Lab time: 12:40_______________________________ Name: Summer Breidenbach ___________________________

EXS 387 - Biomechanics

Lab #5 - CENTER OF GRAVITY AND STABILITY
Learning objective: To increase understanding of center of gravity and stability.
Equipment:
reaction board measuring tape scale eraser
Activities:
1. CENTER OF GRAVITY LOCATION
R2
• Measure your mass before you place the
reaction board on the scale.
cg
• Record your mass, m, and the distance, d,
between the supports of the reaction board.
• Place the head of the reaction board on the scale
on the weight plate and the foot on the weight x
plates. Record the scale reading as R1.
W
m
• Take off your shoes and lie on the reaction
board as shown. Read the reaction force, R2, d
from the scale and enter this value in Table 1.
 Compute the distance, x, from the support of the reaction board at your feet to your center of gravity:
x = (R2 - R1) d / m
• Using this same equation, determine the location of your center of gravity (x) for the following positions
by filling out Table 1 below:
a. Anatomical position.
b. One arm overhead: Reach over your head as far as you can with one hand. Keep the other arm at
your side and keep your feet touching the footplate (position 2a on next page).
c. Both arms overhead and one leg up: Reach over your head as far as you can with both hands and
raise one leg as well (position 2b on next page).
d. Both arms overhead and legs flexed: Keep both arms overhead and move both your feet up to touch
your buttocks by flexing your knees and hips. Keep your trunk and arms in the same position on the
board (position 2c on next page).
your height in inches (needed to answer question #1b) = h = ____69in_________
your mass = m = ____83kg_______ distance between supports = d = 84”
initial scale reading with nothing on board = R1 = ___9.1kg__________

TABLE 1 R2 x = (R2 - R1) d / m

(scale reading in kg) (c.g. position in inches)
1a. Anatomical position 42in
51kg
1b. One arm raised 49kg 40in

1c. Both arms raised 51kg 42in

and one leg raised
1d. Both arms and 54kg 45in
both legs raised
EXS 387 - Biomechanics - Lab #5 Name _______________________________________________

2. VERTICAL JUMP AND CENTER OF GRAVITY

a. From a standing position next to the wall,
reach as high as you can and touch the
measuring tape with one hand (see Figure
a). Record the inch mark you touch as
your reach height (h1). Now jump from a
standing position and touch the measuring
tape as high up as you can with one hand.
Record the inch mark you touch in the
table below as jump and reach height (h2).
b. Repeat the standing vertical jump. This
time reach overhead with both hands and
raise one leg when you touch the tape (see
Figure b). Record the inch mark you
touch in the table below (h2).
c. Repeat the standing vertical jump. This
initial reading = reach height = h1 time reach overhead with both hands and
flex your knees and hips when you touch
h1 = _________98in_______ the tape (see Figure c). Record the inch
mark you touch in the table below (h2).

In each of these three jumps, try to duplicate the jumping effort and technique exactly for the take off part
of the jumping action (the on the ground part). The only differences in the jumping techniques should
occur after you have left the ground, while you are in the air.

TABLE 2 h2 hvj = (h2 - h1)

(jump and reach height) (vertical jump distance)
2a. One arm raised 133in 35in

2b. Both arms raised and 110in 12in

one leg raised
2c. Both arms and both legs 109in 11in
raised

3. STABILITY
a. Stand facing the wall with toes touching the wall. Now, plantar flex your ankles so that you are
standing on your toes. Try to maintain this position for two seconds without touching anything
other than the wall and the floor.
b. Stand with your right side and right foot against the wall. Try to lift your left leg up and hold it up
for two seconds without touching anything other than the wall and the floor.
c. Stand with your heels and back against the wall. Try to pick up something off the floor without
moving your feet (keep your heels on the floor and against the wall).
EXS 387 - Biomechanics - Lab #5 Name _______________________________________________

4. STABILITY AND GENDER

a. Place a chair on the floor so that the back of the chair is touching the wall. Stand in front of the
chair, facing the wall so that your toes are two foot lengths from the wall. Bend over and touch the
wall with the top of your head. Lift up the chair off the floor while keeping your head against the
wall. Now, without moving your feet or lowering the chair, lift the chair and stand up.
b. Kneel on the floor and put your elbows against your knees so that your forearms rest against the
floor and the palms of your hands are together. Place the eraser on the floor at the tip of your
outstretched fingers. Rise up on your knees only, and put your arms behind your back. Now, try to
tip the eraser over with your nose. Keep your hands behind your back and don't let your face fall on
the floor.

Questions:
1. When you stand in anatomical position, how high is your center of gravity? (see 1a in Table 1)
The center of gravity is 42in in anatomical position.
2. How high is this as a percent of your standing height?
42in/69in x 100= 60%
3. While standing in anatomical position, the average center of gravity height for men is 57% of standing
height while the average center of gravity height for women is 55% of standing height. Why are these
relative center of gravity heights different for men and women?
Center of gravity is different for men and women because of the way their bodies are. Women have wider
hips so their center of gravity is towards their lower body while men have wider shoulders so
their center of gravity is towards the upper part of their body.

4. What were your vertical jump distances (hvj in Table 2) in Activities 2a, 2b, and 2c?

The distance for activity 2a was 35in. The distance for 2b was 12in. The distance for 2c was 11in.
5. Why weren't you able to reach higher using techniques 2b and 2c?
The techniques used in 2b and 2c made the jumper less aerodynamic and so couldn’t reach as high as
they did for the jump for 2a.
6. What were the differences in vertical jump distances between vertical jumps 2a and 2b and
between 2a and 2c?
133-120=23 133-109=11
7. What were the differences between center of gravity locations for the corresponding positions on
the reaction board: 1b and 1c, and 1b and 1d?
49-51=-2 49-54=-5
8. Theoretically, should these differences (answer to 7) be similar to the differences in vertical
jump distances (answer to 6)?
The differences between center of gravity should be similar to the differences of vertical jump distances.
9. Why or why not?
They should be similar because in both instances, the same positions were used. The only difference
between the two was that is one activity, the person was lying down while doing the poses.
EXS 387 - Biomechanics - Lab #5 Name _______________________________________________

10. When you jump up in the air and become a projectile, can you control where your center of
gravity is relative to the ground while you’re in the air?

You cannot control your center of gravity when you become a projectile.
11. Why or why not?
You can’t control your center of gravity when you are in the air because you are no longer in contact
with the floor and you can’t control if your center of gravity is relative to the ground.
12. When you jump up in the air and become a projectile, can you control where your center of
gravity is relative to your body, e.g., can you do things that will move your head closer to your center
of gravity while you’re in the air?
When you are in the air you can control where your center of gravity is relative to your body. Even
though you are in the air, you can still control your body and move it to your center of gravity.

13. Why were the movements you tried to do in Activities 3a, 3b and 3c so difficult or impossible to
do?

They were unable to keep the line of gravity above base of support because wall was in the way.
14. Were more women than men able to complete Activities 4a and 4b successfully?
Yes
15. Why or why not?
Men’s broader shoulder keep their center of gravity towards the top of their bodies so they fall
forward. Women’s center of gravity is towards their lower bodies so it keeps them stable.

Important terms and equations:

center of gravity center of mass line of gravity
base of support moment arm = r stability
moment of force = torque = T = F x r static equilibrium