Name: center of mass in motion
Uploaded: 2023-09-22T11:49:31.000Z
Duration: 59 s
Channel: JoVE

The center of mass is the point in a body where the entire mass is assumed to be concentrated. A force applied to it causes the body to accelerate without developing torque.&#160;
A body&#39;s weight can be represented by an equivalent force acting at its center of mass.
If it is composed of an infinite number of particles, then each particle will have a gravitational force acting on it.
Recall the coordinates of the center of gravity of any body.
Substituting for W and dW gives the location of the center of mass. If the body&#39;s density is not constant, the equation gets further simplified.
The center of mass coincides with the center of gravity if the gravitational acceleration is constant.
Knowing the center of mass is important when designing a car, as it is essential to ensure its center of mass is low to the ground for stability.

center of mass

Center of Mass

The center of mass is the point at which the total mass of an object can be said to be concentrated. It is a fundamental principle in mechanics and physics that applies to all objects regardless of their shape or size. The center of gravity is the point at which an object&#8217;s weight appears to be concentrated and can be used to balance the object perfectly.
The knowledge of the center of mass can also help us to describe and predict the motion of objects. For example, when a ball is thrown into the air, its center of mass follows a parabolic trajectory determined by the force of gravity acting on it. Knowing the position of the center of mass allows us to predict how an object will move through space. The center of mass and the center of gravity are related but distinct concepts. For example, if an object is spinning rapidly, then this could cause its center of mass to shift away from the center of gravity due to inertia.
In addition, engineers use the center of mass to design stable structures like cars and aircraft that can withstand strong winds while remaining agile in their movements. In robotics, knowing where the center of mass lies helps machines balance on two or three legs without toppling over due to unbalanced forces acting upon them. Finding and understanding the center of mass plays a vital role in many fields ranging from engineering, design, and architecture to sports science and beyond.

The center of mass is the point at which the total mass of an object can be said to be concentrated. It is a fundamental principle in mechanics and ...

Education

JoVE Core

Mechanical Engineering

Unit 1

Center of Gravity and Centroid

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

center of mass in motion

The center of mass helps explain how an object moves through space. It is the point where the total mass of an object can be treated as concentrated. This idea applies to objects of different shapes and sizes.

The center of mass is related to the center of gravity, but they are not the same. The center of gravity is the point where an object’s weight seems to be concentrated. It can be used to balance an object perfectly.

Knowing the center of mass also helps predict motion. When a ball is thrown into the air, its center of mass follows a parabolic path because of gravity. That path can be used to describe how the ball will move.

Spinning motion can change the relationship between the center of mass and the center of gravity. In some cases, rapid rotation and inertia can shift the center of mass away from the center of gravity. Engineers use this idea to build stable cars and aircraft that can handle strong winds while still moving well.

The center of mass also matters in robotics. Machines use it to stay balanced on two or three legs without falling over from unbalanced forces. This makes the center of mass useful in engineering, design, architecture, and sports science.

Center of Mass in Motion

center of gravity

Center of Gravity in Balance and Design

The center of gravity is the point where an object’s weight appears to act. It is the spot used to balance the object most evenly. In mechanics, this point helps explain stability and moments of inertia. The center of gravity does not always sit inside the object’s shape. In some cases, it can lie outside the body. That is why the idea is useful for both simple and more complex shapes. Its location can be found with the principle of moments. The object is divided into very small parts, and...

The center of mass helps explain how an object moves through space. It is the point where the total mass of an object can be treated as concentrated. This idea applies to objects of different shapes and sizes. The center of mass is related to the center of gravity, but they are not the same. The center of gravity is the point where an object’s weight seems to be concentrated. It can be used to balance an object perfectly. Knowing the center of mass also helps predict motion. When a ball is...

centroid of a body

Finding the Center of a Body

The centroid is the geometric center of a body. It is an important idea in engineering, physics, and mechanics. For many objects, it lies inside the body. A body with holes or cavities can be an exception. For a homogeneous body, the centroid matches the center of mass or the center of gravity. Homogeneous means the material has a uniform density. In that case, the centroid can often be found by balancing the moments of the body’s volume. Symmetry can also help locate the centroid. If a...

centroid of a body: problem solving

Centroid of a Quarter Circle Wire

The centroid of a quarter circle wire shows how balance points can be found for curved shapes. In physics and engineering, the centroid helps describe stability, balance, and design. For a thin wire bent into a quarter circular arc, the goal is to find the centroid coordinates of the arc itself. Polar coordinates are used to solve this centroid problem. The wire is divided into small differential elements, and each element has a length equal to the radius times the differential angle. The x-...

centroid for the paraboloid of revolution

centroid-for-the-paraboloid-of-revolution

Centroid and Uses of a Paraboloid Shape

The centroid of a paraboloid of revolution is the point where its mass is balanced. A paraboloid of revolution is an axially symmetric surface made by rotating a parabola around its axis. In engineering, this location matters because it helps show how forces spread across the shape. Knowing the centroid can help when building parts that must handle stress and pressure reliably. The paraboloid shape has useful structural properties, including rotational symmetry and strength against stress...

composite bodies

Center of Gravity in Composite Bodies

Composite bodies are made of multiple connected parts that act as one larger object. Each part still has its own weight and center of gravity. To find the center of gravity of the whole body, engineers must account for every part. When the density or specific weight is constant, the center of gravity matches the centroid. The centroid is the geometric center of a shape. This idea is useful when analyzing parts that behave as a single unit. Composite bodies are common in mechanical engineering.

theorems of pappus and guldinus

Surface Area and Volume by Centroid Paths

Pappus and Guldinus theorems help find the surface area and volume of bodies of revolution. A body of revolution is formed when a plane curve or plane area is turned around an axis that does not intersect it. For surface area, a curve is revolved around a non-intersecting axis. A small line element on the curve creates a thin ring as it moves. Adding these ring areas gives the total surface area of the solid. The first theorem says that this surface area equals the length of the generating...

theorems of pappus and guldinus: problem solving

theorems-of-pappus-and-guldinus-problem-solving

Pappus and Guldinus Theorems for Surface Area

Pappus and Guldinus's theorems help find the surface area and volume of composite shapes. These rules are useful when a solid is made from simple parts that are hard to measure directly. A cylindrical storage tank with a conical top is one example. The tank can be split into two simple shapes: a cylinder and a cone. To find surface area, the first theorem is used for the solid formed by revolving each generating curve around a non-intersecting axis. The calculation uses the length of the...

resultant of a general distributed loading

resultant-of-a-general-distributed-loading

Finding the Resultant of Distributed Loads

Distributed loads create a force that is spread over a surface instead of acting at one point. To analyze this kind of loading, engineers use a single resultant force. That force represents the net effect of the entire load. This idea is important in structures that face non-uniform loads. Wind can push on buildings and towers with changing speed and direction, so the load is not evenly spread. Bridges also experience non-uniform loading from vehicles, and some parts of the bridge can feel...

fluid pressure

How Depth Changes Fluid Pressure

Fluid pressure changes with depth in liquids used in engineering systems. It matters in hydraulic systems, pumps, and valves, where the forces from moving and resting fluid must be considered to prevent damage or failure. For a fluid at rest, Pascal’s law says the pressure is equal in all directions. Pressure is force per unit area. Its size depends on the fluid’s specific weight, or mass density, and on how deep the measurement point is below the fluid surface. This relationship can be...

fluid pressure over flat plate of constant width

fluid-pressure-over-flat-plate-of-constant-width

Center of Pressure on a Submerged Plate

Fluid pressure on a submerged flat plate depends on depth and shape. A plate under water experiences pressure acting normal to its surface, and the force is spread across the whole area. For a rectangular plate of constant width, this pressure increases from the top edge to the bottom edge. Because the pressure rises with depth, the loading forms a trapezoidal distribution. The resultant force on the plate comes from the trapezoidal volume of water with a specific weight. The line of action of...

fluid pressure over curved plate of constant width

fluid-pressure-over-curved-plate-of-constant-width

Finding Force on a Curved Plate in Water

Fluid pressure on a curved plate of constant width changes in both size and direction. That makes the total force hard to find directly. A common method is to split the force into horizontal and vertical parts and then combine them. The calculation becomes simpler by replacing the distributed load with an equivalent two-dimensional loading. The first step is to include the weight of the liquid inside the block. That force equals the specific weight of the liquid times the plate thickness and...

fluid pressure over flat plate of variable width

fluid-pressure-over-flat-plate-of-variable-width

A submerged flat plate experiences fluid pressure that changes with depth. This pressure can create effects such as drag and buoyancy. To study a flat plate with variable width, the pressure distribution across the plate must be analyzed first. The force on a small strip of the plate is found by multiplying the pressure by the strip’s differential area. The pressure can also be written using the fluid’s specific weight and the depth of that strip below the surface. To find the total, or...

key terms and concepts

Learn how the center of mass helps predict motion, explains balance, and supports real-world design in cars, aircraft, robotics, and sports science.

Center of Mass in Motion | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Mechanical Engineering offers concise, easy-to-understand animated videos covering key topics such as equilibrium, forces, truss analysis, and structural mechanics. Explore their real-world applications, and witness these concepts in action through scientist-led experiments.

mechanical engineering

Center of Mass in Motion

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