MERRYLAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Department of Physics - Grade 9

CENTRE OF MASS

1 The diagrams show four objects A, B, C and D. The centre of mass M of each object is marked
on the diagrams.

Which object is not in equilibrium?

A B C D

M
M
M M

2 The diagram shows an L-shaped piece of card suspended freely from a pin at B.
When the card is pushed, it swings and then comes to a stop in the position shown.

At which labelled point is the centre of mass of the card?

card suspended
from here
A
B

D
C
3 The diagrams show four solid cones. The centre of mass of each cone is marked by a point
labelled M.

Which cone is the most stable?

A B C D

M M M M

4 A heavy truck on wheels has a platform attached to it.

A man stands on the platform.

The truck does not fall over.

Which position A, B, C or D could be the centre of mass of the whole system (truck, platform and
man)?

man

truck D
platform

C
B
A

5 A plane lamina with centre of mass X touches the ground at point P.

Which diagram shows the lamina in equilibrium?
A B

X
X


70
20
P P
 C D

X X

45 45
P P

6 The diagram shows a uniform, flat metal sheet hanging freely from a nail at point A. A weight
also hangs freely on a string tied to A.

One of the labelled points is at the centre of mass of the metal

sheet. Which point is at the centre of mass?

nail
A

metal sheet

weight
 7 Passengers are not allowed to stand on the upper deck of double-decker buses.
upper deck

lower deck

Why is this?

A They would cause the bus to become less stable.

B They would cause the bus to slow down.
C They would increase the kinetic energy of the bus.
D They would lower the centre of mass of the bus.

8 Four table lamps are shown along with the position M of the centre of mass in each case.
Which lamp is the most stable?

A B C D

M M
M
M

9 A car is designed to be stable.

To achieve good stability, where is the centre of mass of the car?

A above the front wheels

B above the rear wheels
C as high in the car as possible
D as low in the car as possible
10 What affects the stability of an object?
A only its base area and the location of its centre of mass
B only its weight and its base area
C only the location of its centre of mass
D only its weight

11 Which chair is the least stable if the child moves?

A B C D

12 A piece of uniform card is suspended freely from a horizontal pin.

Which point is its centre of mass?

pin

D
13 Four objects of equal mass rest on a table. The centre of mass of each object is labelled G.
Which object is the least stable?

A B C D

G
G
G G

14 The diagram shows four shapes, cut from the same piece of card.

Which shape has its centre of mass nearest to the base line?

A B C D

base line

15 A student balances a non-uniform object on a pivot. To do this, a weight is suspended near the
left-hand end of the object.

Where is the centre of mass of the object?

object

D
A C
B

weight
pivot
16 Four solid uniform cones have equal weight. They are placed on a bench as shown in the scale
diagram.

Which cone is the most stable?

A B C D

17 A metal cone with a circular base is placed on a flat surface.

The stability of the cone depends on

A its weight only.

B the diameter of its base and the position of its centre of mass.
C the diameter of its base only.
D the position of its centre of mass only.

18 The stability of a bus is tested by tilting it on a ramp. The diagram shows a bus that is just about
to topple over. A
Where is the centre of mass of the bus?
B

ramp
D

ground
 19 A flat lamina is freely suspended from point P.

The weight of the lamina is 2.0 N and the centre of mass is at C.

P
lamina
PC = 0.50 m
PQ = 0.40 m
QC = 0.30 m Q C

The lamina is displaced to the position shown.

What is the moment that will cause the lamina to swing?

A 0.60 N m clockwise
B 0.80 N m anticlockwise
C 1.0 N m clockwise
D 1.0 N m anticlockwise

20 A student finds the centre of mass of a triangular lamina PQR.

He drills a small hole at Q. He suspends the lamina from a pin through the hole at Q so that the
lamina swings freely. He then hangs a plumb-line from the pin at Q, as shown. He marks the
position of the plumb-line on the lamina.

P
 To determine the location of the centre of mass, the student then repeats the experiment but with
one change.

What is the change?

A He suspends the lamina from the hole at Q, with R on the left and P on the right.
B He suspends the lamina from a pin through a hole at R.
C He uses a heavier weight on the plumb-line.
D He uses a longer plumb-line.

RESPONSE TABLE:

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
C C D B B C A A D A

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

A C B C D C B C A B