Parallel Forces

Forces acting in the same or in opposite directions at different

points on an object.
Center of Gravity
The point at which all of an objects weight can be considered to be
concentrated OR the point from which the object will balance.

Center of Gravity may be:

 At the geometric center
 Inside an object that is not at the geometric center
 Outside the object
 If an object is irregularly shaped, spinning the object and
finding the intersection where axes meet can find the
center of gravity.

 There is not always material at an object’s center of mass.

Example #1: Center of Gravity at the Geometric Center

A Uniform Bar or Stick

Center of gravity

There are numerous particles in the bar or stick that each have
a mass. Gravity acts on all of these masses producing forces
which act at a distance from the center of gravity
Example #2: Center of Gravity inside an object that is not at the
geometric center

C of G

The center of gravity is not the point that equally divides the weight on
either side of a body or object .
There is much more weight to the right, but the length or distance of
the arm is also much smaller on the right, therefore the torques will
balance out.
Example #3: Center of Gravity inside an object that is not at the
geometric center

Baseball Bat
Example #4: Center of Gravity inside an object that is not at the
geometric center

cg cg
cg

1 2 3
Center of gravity Center of gravity moves in
moves in the the opposite direction of the
direction the arm removed leg; up and to the
moved; up and to man’s left.
the left.
Example #5: For some objects the Center of Gravity is located
outside the actual object.

Stool
Ring
2 uniform
perpendicular
planks

FW
FW FW
 Linked to Principle of Moments
Counter-Clockwise Moment Clockwise Moment

 When the object is suspended from a point it will come to

rest when the clockwise moment is equal to the counter-
clockwise moment.
Moment is the tendency of a force to twist or rotate an object
When an object is suspended, so that it can swing freely, it will
come to rest with its Center of Gravity vertically below the
point of suspension.
States of Equilibrium
Any object at rest may be in one of three states of equilibrium:

Stable: The condition of an object to return it is original

position when slightly disturbed.

Unstable: When disturbed slightly, it will fall over.

Neutral: The condition where an object is lying on its side and

displace but manages to remains its equilibrium about its new
position
Stable objects:
 The C of G is at lowest possible position.
 The C of G needs to be raised in order to topple the object.
 They are difficult to topple over.
Unstable objects:
 the C.G. is at the highest possible position.
 the C.G. is lowered in order to topple the object.
 They are easy to topple down.
Objects with neutral equilibrium:
 the C of G is neither lowered nor raised when the object is
toppled.
 they roll from one side to another.
An object becomes unstable when its Center of Gravity falls
outside of the object’s base.
Why?
All of the object’s weight can be considered as acting through the
CoG. If this acts outside the base then it will cause a turning effect
or a moment
For an object to start rotating it needs to have an unbalanced
moment acting on it

Pivot
Pivot
FW FW FW
Stable Stable Unstable

Moment is the tendency of a force to twist or rotate an object

A great example of a VERY stable
object.
What features of the cone make it so
stable?

 Low Center of Gravity

 Wide base
Position of Center of Gravity
Each of the diagrams on the right represent a
Double Decker bus with passengers inside.

Which one of these drawings shows all

passengers on:

The lower level

The upper level
Both levels
 If more people sit upstairs on the bus the CoG will rise/fall.
This will make the bus more stable/unstable and it can be
tilted by a greater/lesser angle

 The bus will fall over when the CoG acts inside/outside of
the bus’ base

 A stable object has a low/high CoG and a narrow/wide base