Center of Gravity

Defination
 A point from which the weight of a body
or system may be considered to act. In
uniform gravity it is the same as the
centre of mass.
 CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG)
 The “balance point” of
the body
 The point where the
weight of the body acts
 The point where all
forces acting on the body Fig 14.1
equal zero
– Linear forces must be
balanced
– Rotary forces must be
balanced
 CENTER OF GRAVITY

 The location of the

CG remains fixed as
long as the body
does not change
shape Fig 14.3
 If an object’s shape
or position changes,
the location of the
CG changes
 CENTER OF GRAVITY
 As one changes
the relationship of
the body
segments to each
other, the CG may
even be located
outside the body
Fig 14.4
 Placement of the Center of
Gravity in Humans

 The location of the CG of a human being

in the normal standing position varies
with body build, age and also in female
and male.
 Placement of Center of Gravity
 Male’s CG is ~57% of standing height
 In quiet standing, the CG can be
considered to be almost directly over the
center of pressure
 Center of pressure is the point at which
the force vector for ground reaction force
is applied
 Female’s CG is ~ 55% of standing height
 STABILITY AND EQUILIBRIUM
 All objects at rest are in equilibrium
 All forces acting on them are balanced
 The sum of all linear forces equals zero
 The sum of all torques equals zero
 However, all objects at rest are not
equally stable
 Stable Equilibrium
 Occurs when an
object is placed in
such a fashion that
an effort to disturb
it would require its Fig 14.5a
CG to be raised
 Unstable Equilibrium
 A slight disturbance
will drop the objects
CG to a lower point
 An unstable objects
seeks stability by Fig 14.5b
falling from a
smaller to a larger
base of support
 Neutral Equilibrium
 Occurs when an
object’s CG is
neither raised nor
lowered when it is
disturbed Fig 14.5c
 Remains the same
 Inertial property
 Adjusting the Center of Gravity
Humans spend most of their time adjusting
their positions to the type of equilibrium
best suited to the task and environment
 Factors Affecting Stability
 The ability to maintain one’s balance
under unfavorable circumstance is
recognized as one of the basic motor skills
 The following factors affecting the stability
of a performer’s equilibrium state
– should make analysis easier
– may suggest means for improvement
 Horizontal Center of Gravity
 There are different types of support
systems in order to maintain equilibrium
and stability
 Size of the base of Support
 CG must remain
within the base of
support in order to Standing
maintain stable and Walking
in equilibrium
 Easier with larger
base of support
Headstand
Fig 14.6
Shape of the base of Support

Fig 14.6c
Fig 14.6b

Resistance to Resistance to
AP forces lateral forces
 Base of Support
 Both feet and hands a quadruped
 Babies crawl, roll and sprawl in their form
of locomotion
 Children and adults biped
 Seniors quadruped with the help of a
walker
 Age and fitness specific
 Vertical Center of Gravity
 Height and location of Center of Gravity
along a vertical line (y axis)
 Height of the Center of
Gravity

a>b>c
with x
respect to x
lateral
stability Fig 14.8
x
Height of Center of Gravity (CG)
 Height of CG changes with body position
along the vertical line
 As CG moves closer to base of support
more angular displacement can occur
before it goes beyond the base of support
 Relationship of the Line of
Gravity to the Base of Support
 To maintain equilibrium, line of gravity
must remain within its base of support

Fig 14.9 &

14.10
 Mass of the Body
 Only a factor when motion or an external
force is involved
 Amount of force needed to effect a
change in motion is proportional to the
mass being moved
 The greater the mass, the greater the
stability