THE HAPPY VALLEY SCHOOL
INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
PHYSICS
GRADE 11
Topic: CENTRE OF GRAVITY
Session: 2024-25
Submitted by: Submitted to:
Vasu Vignesh.B Mrs.
Thejaswini
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and sincere
to Mrs. Priya Simon George (Principal) and Mrs.
Swati Dixit (Coordinator) of The Happy Valley
School for their encouragement and all the facilities
that they provided to carry out this project work. I
express my sincere thanks to Mrs. Thejaswini, our
physics teacher, for her guidance to the successful
completion of this project. I take this opportunity to
express my deep sense of gratitude for their
invaluable guidance, support, constant
encouragement, constructive comments, sympathetic
attitude and immense motivation. I can’t forget to
offer my sincere thanks to my classmates too who
helped me to carry out the experiment work
successfully.
INDEX
Introduction
Aim
Apparatus Required
Theory
Procedure
Observations
Conclusions
Precautions
Bibliography
AIM
To design an appropriate project for understanding the concept
of the centre of gravity.
Introduction:
The center of gravity is not always located within the physical
boundaries of the object. For example, in a hollow object like a ring or a
circular frame, the center of gravity lies at the center of the ring, even
though the object’s mass is distributed around the perimeter. This
concept can be applied in various complex systems, such as in the case
of spacecraft or aircraft, where the center of gravity is a crucial factor for
determining flight dynamics. If the CG is too far forward or backward
relative to the wings or other control surfaces, it can lead to instability,
making the vehicle difficult to control or prone to excessive fuel
consumption. The position of an object's center of gravity can change
when external forces are applied or when the object undergoes
deformation. For example, when a person shifts their weight while
standing or walking, their center of gravity moves accordingly.
Similarly, when a load is applied unevenly to a structure (like a building
or a bridge), the CG will shift in the direction of the load, which can
affect the stability of the structure. In such cases, engineers must
calculate the new CG to ensure the structure remains safe under varying
conditions. In biomechanics, understanding the center of gravity is
essential for optimizing human performance. In activities like skiing,
running, or swimming, athletes adjust their posture and body position to
manage their center of gravity effectively. For instance, in running, an
athlete’s CG is constantly moving, and maintaining a forward lean while
keeping the body aligned helps in achieving maximum speed and
efficiency. In swimming, athletes adjust their body posture to keep their
CG low in the water, allowing for more streamlined movement.
In the field of robotics and prosthetics, the concept of CG is used to
design more efficient machines and devices. Robots, for example, are
designed with a carefully considered center of gravity to ensure stability
and maneuverability. If the CG is too high or improperly placed, the
robot may be prone to tipping or falling. In prosthetics, the alignment of
the artificial limb's center of gravity relative to the rest of the body can
affect comfort, balance, and functionality for the user.
Lastly, the center of gravity is a fundamental concept in rotational
motion. When an object rotates about an axis, its center of gravity
follows a circular path, and the forces acting on the object can be
analyzed in terms of how they influence this rotational movement. In
physics, the moment of inertia, which describes an object’s resistance to
rotational motion, is directly related to the distribution of mass around
the center of gravity. The farther the mass is from the CG, the larger the
moment of inertia, making it more difficult to rotate the object. This
principle is crucial for understanding the behavior of spinning objects,
from simple everyday items like wheels to more complex systems like
planets or mechanical flywheels.
APPARATUS REQUIRED
A fork and a spoon
A toothpick
A glass cup
A lighter
THEORY
A centre of gravity of a material body is a point
that may be used for a summary description of
gravitational interactions. In a uniform
gravitational field, the center of mass serves as
the center of gravity. This concept is sometimes
useful in designing static structures or in
predicting the behavior of a moving body when
it is acted on by gravity. The location of a
body’s center of gravity may coincide with the
geometric centre of body especially in a
symmetrical shaped object.
PROCEDURE
1. Place the glass cup on the table.
2. Find the center of gravity of the toothpick.
3. Take the fork and the spoon and fix the spoon with the fork
such that the 1st spike and 4th spike of the fork overlaps the
convex face of the spoon and 2nd spike and 3rd spike of the
fork overlaps the concave face of the spoon.
4. Fix the toothpick in between the 2nd spike and 3rd spike of
the fork.
5. Now place the toothpick at the edge of the glass cup such
that its centre of mass coincide with the edge of the glass
cup so the system will be balanced.
6. Partially burn the toothpick till the point of its center of
mass.
7. Record your observations.
OBSERVATIONS
You will observe that the whole system is
balanced even after the partial burning of the
toothpick it means that it does not affect the
center of gravity of the toothpick.
You will also observe that the toothpick does
not continue to burn past the metal of the fork or
the glass is that when it reaches these points it is
robbed of its heat and goes out.
CONCLUSION
1. The whole mass of the object is concentrated in the
centre which is called centre of mass or centre of
gravity.
2. The centre of mass is always remains constant in an
object.
3. The centre of mass depends on the length of the
object i.e., different object has different centre of
mass or centre of gravity.
4. It also depends upon the total mass of the object.
PRECAUTIONS
1. Handle glass cup carefully.
2. Use the lighter carefully.
3. Be precise and accurate in your calculations of
centre of mass.
4. The fork and spoon should be interlocked properly.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Source: www.youtube.com, www.google.com
