Center of Mass
Learning Objectives
 | Determine the center of mass for a body in multiple positions. |
| Determine whether the body would be stable. |
Equipment
Scissors, transparency film, transparency markers, graph paper, tape.
Procedure
1. This lab works best with a group of two students. Use Section 7-8 and 7-9 as a reference for this lab.
| Trace the body parts (two arms and legs) of the man onto transparency film. Make sure you include the pivot points, center of mass, and weight of each part. Click here for body parts. This represents Table 7-1 on page 197. | ||||||||||||||
| Cut out the body parts. | ||||||||||||||
| Draw coordinate system (x and y axis) on the graph paper. | ||||||||||||||
| Arrange the parts of the man on graph paper making sure the pivots line
properly. You may choose whether your man is:
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| Tape the parts to the graph paper. | ||||||||||||||
| Use the formula from Section 7-8 page 195 to calculate the x and y components of the center of mass. | ||||||||||||||
| Mark the center of mass on the graph paper. |
2. PHY 112 - complete the three questions as Lab Homework, and the Lab Report for the group is due at the next class.