Center of Gravity

The center of gravity is the point where the object’s entire weight appears to be concentrated. A forklift crane with load is perfectly balanced, when its center of gravity lies inside the stability triangle.

To locate the center of gravity of any object, apply the principle of moments.

Divide the object into n number of thin slices of a weight of dW each, with each dot representing the center of gravity.

The sum of the moments of the gravitational forces, dW, acting on all the slices about the y-axis equals the moment of the resultant gravitational force, W, about the same axis. This gives the position of the center of gravity in the x-direction.

If the slices are made thinner and thinner such that the number of slices tends to infinity, the summation becomes an integration.

Similarly, the y-coordinate of the center of gravity can be determined.

This method can be generalized to three-dimensional objects.

The center of gravity of any object can lie on the object or outside the object.