St.

Joseph’s Convent Secondary School

Form 3 Physics
Research Assignment: Statics
Due: March 17th 2022

INSTRUCTIONS: Use your textbook and other appropriate sources to complete the following
research assignment. The assignment can be hand written or typed but should be submitted by the
due date as hard copy.

OBJECTIVES: Students should be able to;

1. explain the action of common tools and devices as levers
2. determine the location of the centre of gravity of a body
3. relate the stability of an object to the position of its centre of gravity and its weight

PART A
1. What are levers?
Levers are simple machines that use one force(the effort) to move another force(the load).

2. Explain why levers are force multipliers.

Levers are force multipliers because they use a small effort force to overcome a large load
force.

3. The diagram below shows a lever system.

a) Define the fulcrum of a lever system?

The fulcrum in a lever system is where the lever pivots.

b) Draw the symbol that is used to indicate the fulcrum? ________

c) How does the effort differ from the load in a lever system?

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 4. The following are examples of three levers that use the principle of moments. Label the
fulcrum, load and effort for each.

PART B

1. What is meant by the term “centre of gravity” of a body?

Centre of gravity is defined as the single point on an object through which its whole weight
acts for any orientation of the object.

2. To find the centre of gravity of regular shapes we can draw lines of symmetry and the point
where they intersect would indicate the centre of gravity. For each of the regular shapes
below draw at least two lines of symmetry to determine the centre of gravity.
 3. Describe with the aid of a diagram how you can determine the position of the centre of
gravity of the irregularly shaped lamina below.

To determine the position of the centre of gravity of the irregularly shaped lamina, make
three small holes in it near its edges. Put a strong pin through one of the holes and fix it in
a clamp so that the object can swing freely. Attach a plumb line to the pin and when the
object and the plumb line have both stopped swinging, mark a cross on the object exactly
behind the plumb line and near the opposite edge to the hole. Repeat this procedure for all
three holes then remove the object from the pin and draw straight lines with a ruler from
each hole to the opposite cross.

Part C

1) The stability of an object refers to its ability to return to its original position after it has been
tilted. Explain how the following factors affect stability of an object:

a)the size of the base

Objects with a wide base are more stable than those with a narrow base. A wider base will allow the
centre of gravity to travel further when tilting before it reaches its tipping point.
b) the position of the centre of gravity

With the taller cylinder and the shorter cylinder, the taller cylinder has a higher centre of gravity than the
shorter cylinder.As long as their bases are about the same size, the taller cylinder centre of gravity will pass its
base when tilting before the shorter cylinder. So you have to tilt the short cylinder more than the tall one to
get it to tip over.

2) Explain what is meant by

a) Stable equilibrium-Stable equilibrium is when a body returns to its original position when it is
displaced.Eg. when you push a cylinder for it to tilt and it returns to the position it was first in. The
centre of gravity will move higher when the object is displaced.

b) Unstable equilibrium-Unstable equilibrium is when a body topples over when displaced

slightly.Eg. If someone pushes an acrobat when she is walking on a tightrope and she falls over, the
acrobat is in unstable equilibrium.

c)Neutral Equilibrium-Neutral equilibrium is when a body remains in the new position after it is
displaced. Eg if you push a cup and it topples over and remains in the position it is after it falls, it is
in neutral equilibrium.

3) For each diagram, state i) the type of equilibrium shown and ii) what happens to the centre of
gravity of the body when the body’s equilibrium is disturbed.

Stable equilibrium-the centre of gravity will rise

Neutral equilibrium-the centre of gravity will neither rise nor fall

 Unstable equilibrium-the centre of gravity will fall

4) Explain why a minivan is more likely to topple over when the roof rack is heavily loaded than when
the roof rack is empty.

A minivan is more likely to topple over when the roof rack is heavily loaded than when the roof rack
is empty because when load is added to the minivan it causes the centre of gravity to change(rise)
which makes the minivan unstable