Centre of Mass

Balance and stability

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• The centre of mass is the mass-weighted average position.
• Objects balance when supported directly below their centre of mass.
• Stable objects have a wide base and a low centre of mass.

Steps

1. Balance a ruler
2. Centre of mass
3. Dumbbell
4. Tipping point
5. Tip it over
6. The Leaning Tower