8.

1 Center of mass and center of gravity 1/3

2025-04-15

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 1
Center of mass: Definition

e e d
The center of mass is the point at which we can imagine all the mass of an object to
be concentrated.
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
• If an object’s mass density is constant, the center of mass (center of gravity) is in the geometrical
center of the object.
A s m a a _
h e r s m
Uniform shape
e a c @ A
T Non-uniform
Uniform density
Uniform
m : shape Non-uniform shape Non-uniform shape

g ra density Uniform density Non-uniform density

T e l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 2
Center of mass: Point Particle

The center of mass represents an object e e d

as a point particle. A point particle has
h a m e e d
A l a m
mass but no volume.
a a A l h
A s
A point particle is a point locatedmat the a
a _
h e
center of mass of an object r or groupsofm
a c A
Te m: @
objects that represents them.
ra where the
Center of mass is agpoint
T l e
e may be considered to
mass of an object
be concentrated.

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 3
 Next: Activity 1A

Video: uniform and non-uniformdobjects

e e
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 4
Activity 1A: Choose the center of mass
for each of the following objects: eed
h a m e e d
1 2 A l 3
am
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e
Answer: A Answer: B Answer: C
Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 5
 e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 6
 Next: Activity 2A

e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 7
Activity 2A: Find the center of mass of
the following objects: e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 8
 Next: Activity 3A

Video: non-uniform objects d

e e
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 9
Activity 3A: Find the center of mass of
the following object: e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 10
Video: Fork center or mass d
e e
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 11
 Center of Mass and Center of Gravity:
• For objects that are not extremely
large, the center of mass is where the
e e d
force of gravity can be considered to
h a m e e d
act. So, the center of mass is often
A l a m
also the center of gravity.
a a A l h
• The center of gravity is a term that
A s m a a _
can often be used interchangeably
h e r s m
with center of mass.
a c A
Te m: @
• These two terms are only equivalent
g ra
Te
force is constant everywhere l e
in situations where the gravitational

throughout the object.

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 12
 Next: Activity 4A

Center of Mass and Center of Gravity:

e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 13
Activity 4A: e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 14
 Next: Activity 5A

Center of Mass and Center of Gravity:

Look at the center of gravity of some shapes:
e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 15
Activity 5A: e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e
1 2 3 4 5
Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 16
 Next: Activity 6A

Center of Mass and Center of Gravity:

e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 17
Center of Mass and Rotation:

e e d
• A person tries to balance a soccer ball. If the
h a m e e d
center of mass is aligned with the applied
A l a m
force, the ball stays put.
a a A l h
A s m
with the aa _
applied force, a torqueh ise r and thesm
• If the center of mass is not aligned

ball rotates down.ac A

created,

T e
• In this case, the ball is notm : @
g r a considered as a

rotating.
Te l e
point particle; you cannot see a point

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 18
 Rotation Rotation and Translation
When standing on one foot, a person balances by
e e d A tossed cricket bat has both rotational
placing her center of mass directly above her foot.
h a m e e d and translational motion. The bat rotates
Otherwise, the force of gravity will cause her to
A l a m
around its center of mass because it
have rotational motion and fall.
a a A l h has moment of inertia. It also translates in

A s m a a _
space describing a parabola.

h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 19
Center of Mass and Rotation:

e e d
h a m e e d
A l a m
a a A l h
A s m a a _
h e r s m
a c A
Te m: @
g ra
Te l e

Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 20
Thank you

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Teacher: Ms. Asmaa Alhameed 8.1 CENTER OF MASS AND CENTER OF GRAVITY (PART 1/3) 21