CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND STABILITY

Every molecule in an object has a weight. The sum of these downward forces will give a
single resultant force for the weight of any object. When gravity pulls towards an object
towards the Earth, it always appears to pull at the same point on an object. So, an object
behaves as if its whole weight was a single force which acts through some point G called the
center of gravity. Therefore, the center of gravity is defined as:

The point on an object which its whole weight acts for any orientation of the object.

Stability

The stability of an object is determined by:

 The position of its center of gravity – the lower the center of gravity, the more stable
the object.
 The surface area of its base – the wider the surface area of the base, the more stable
the object.

A body is in stable equilibrium if, when it is given a slight displacement, its centre of
gravity rises.

A body which is in unstable equilibrium if, when it is given a slight displacement, its center
of gravity falls.

A body which stays in its new position when slightly displaced is in neutral equilibrium.

COG LAB
FORCES
A force is either a push or pull which when applied to an object causes it to:

(a) Move the object from a position of rest

(b) Change the speed or the direction of the object
(c) Change the shape of the object

Force is a vector quantity since it has magnitude and direction. The symbol for force is F.
The unit is NEWTONS (N).

Equation : F=m x a

Force = mass x acceleration

Units: N or kgms-2

There are many types of forces:

(a) Tension
(b) Contact Force
(c) Expansive Force
(d) Up thrust
(e) Resistance
(f) Friction
(g) Magnetic Force
(h) Electric Force

Weight

In science and engineering, the weight of an object is related to the amount of force acting on

the object, either due to gravity or to a reaction force that holds it in place.

Equation: W =m x g

Weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity

Units: N or kgms-2

HOOKE’S LAW LAB

MOMENTS

The turning effect of a force applied to a rotational system at a distance from the pivot or
point (axis of rotation). 

MOMENT OF A FORCE

The moment of a force is equal to the magnitude of the force multiplied by the perpendicular

distance between its line of action and the pivot (axis of rotation).

Moment of the force about the pivot = F x d, measured in Newtons (Nm)

PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS

For a body to be in equilibrium the sum of clockwise moments must be equal to the sum of
the anti-clockwise moments about any point.

∑ (clockwise moments) = ∑ (sum of anticlockwise moments)

∑ (F x d) = ∑ (F x d)
EXAMPLES

1. A boy of mass 50 kg sits on one side of the see saw 2.4 m from the pivot. If a girl
balances the see saw by sitting 3 m from the pivot on the opposite side to the boy,
what is her weight?

∑ (clockwise moments) = ∑ (sum of anticlockwise moments)

∑ (F x d) = ∑ (F x d)

((50 kg x 10 m/s-2) x 2.4m) = (F x 3m)

(500 N x 2.4m) = 3Fm

1200 Nm = 3Fm

1200 Nm
3m = F

400 N = F

2. A plank AB is 5 m long. It is pivoted at a point A where AO is 2 m long. A boy of

weight 600 N sits at a point C which is 1 m from O. The plank is in equilibrium.
Calculate the weight of the plank. (NB. The weight of the plank acts through its
center)

3. A boy of mass 50kg and a girl of mass 40kg play on a sea saw of negligible weight. If the boy
sits 270cm from the pivot of the sea saw where must the girl sit to make it balance?

4. Jason has a new sea saw at home it is 10.7m long; he invited his overweight friend James over
to play. They went on the sea saw Jason pivoted the sea saw 2 m away from the centre and sat
at the very edge. If Jason weighs 10 kg and James sit also at the edge of the sea saw what
weight must James be if the sea saw is balanced.

5. Kyle sits on a beam of length 35 m pivoted at the 17.5m mark if Kyle sits 10m from the pivot
and weight 65 kg and Charles sits 15m from the pivot and weighs 34kg. State if they would
be in equilibrium, if not why.

6. AB is a uniform plank with the pivot at the center. A boy of mass 20 kg sits 2 m from
the pivot on the right side. A girl of mass 40 kg sits 3 m behind him on the same side.
A man of 80 kg sits on the left side of the pivot and balances the plank. Find his
distance from the pivot.