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STEM General Physics 1

Quarter 1 – Module 27
CENTER OF MASS and
GEOMETRIC CENTER

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General Physics 1 – Senior High School
Quarter 1 – Module 27: CENTER OF MASS and GEOMETRIC CENTER

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nor claim ownership over them.

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Lalaine L. Jarical

Editors: Benjie L. Cadag

Voltaire G. Furio
Alex Barrameda
Edgardo J. Bungcag

Reviewers: Benjie L. Cadag

Voltaire G. Furio
Alex Barrameda
Edgardo J. Bungcag

Language Editor: Ronnalyn N. Jalmasco

Layout Artist: Ma. Rachel B. Espino, Antonio L. Morada

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 Most Essential Learning Competency

•
Differentiate center of mass and geometric center
(STEM_GP12WE-Ih-i-56)

Relate the motion of center of mass of a system to the

momentum and net external force acting on the system
(STEM_GP12MMIC-Ih-57)

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 Introduction

CENTER OF MASS
and GEOMETRIC
CENTER

In this module, you will learn about center

of mass and geometric center.
At the end of the module, you should be able to:

*define center of mass and geometric center;

*differentiate center of mass and geometric center; and
*locate the center of mass and geometric center of some
regulary and irregularly shaped objects.

So, let’s ride, read, enjoy, and discover

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 Before we start our lesson,
try to answer these
five (5) questions below.

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Use a separate sheet for your
answer.

1. Which of the following best describe the center of mass of an object?

A. The center of mass of an object lies inside the object.
B. The center of mass of an object lies outside the object.
C. The center of mass of an object may or may not lie inside the object.
D. The center of mass of an object is always at its geometric center.

2. The following statements define geometric center except----

A. It can lie inside and outside the body
B. It will always be in the axis of symmetry
C. It would not change with property
D. It does not depends on shape or geometry

3. Which of the following is TRUE about geometric center and center of mass?
A. Geometric center only lies inside the body while center of mass only lies
outside the body.
B. Object not made of the same material throughout may have the center of
mass quite far from the geometric center.
C. Geometric center and center of mass does not depends on shape of
geometry of an object.
D. In a regularly shaped object with non-uniform density the center of mass lies
at the geometric center of the object.

4. Where is the center of mass of a donut located?

A. In the hole C. In material making up the donut
B. Over the point of support D. Near the center of gravity

5. Which of the following illustration shows the correct location of the center of
mass and geocentric center of an object?

A. B. C. D.

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 Do you think you were able to get all the correct
answers? It’s okay if you’re not yet sure with your answers.
You may check your answers at the answer key section. Don’t
worry if you got a low score, it only means that you will learn
more from this module. So come on and let us start our
adventure!

Learning Activities

E L I C I T!
Before we start our lesson for this module, let’s review
first your understanding on center of mass by doing this simple
stretching.

In your PE class your teacher may have told you to reach your toe. And you
probably bend over and touch your toes without bending your knees

On the other hand, have you tried bending over and touch your toes without
bending your knees while standing with your heels to a wall? __________________
If not, try doing it. How was your experience? Why can’t you lean over and
touch your toes without falling or toppling? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
With this simple activity, what principle can explain your experience? _______
__________________________________________________________________.

If you were not able to identify the reason and principle

behind this phenomenon do not worry because we are going
to find it out as we go through with this module. So now let’s
move on to the next page and start our learning.

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 E N G A G E!
Hello guys, let me share you a short story. When
Jose and Juan had their fieldtrip in Italy and London, they
visited the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and happen to
pass by a Londoner double-decker bust test. On their
way home they were arguing why the Leaning Tower of
Pisa does not topple over. Applying your previous
knowledge on center of mass to whom statement you will
agree and why?

They did not topple They did not

because the center topple because
of mass or gravity the geometric
does not extend center does not
beyond its base extend beyond its
Juan base.
Pedro

I agree with the idea of ________________________________________________

because____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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 E XPLORE
Finding the center of something can often be very important. When you hang a
picture, it you get the hanger off-center, the picture hangs crooked. If you are making
a top and don’t get the handle right in the center, the top won’t spin correctly. You can
probably think of dozens more examples just by looking at things around you. In this
first activity, you will try to find the exact center of regularly shaped objects with uniform
and non-uniform density.

Activity 1: Finding the center of mass and

geometric center of a square

What will you do?

You will locate the center of mass and geometric center of a
square shape object with uniform density and non-uniform density
using the materials and following the procedure stated in the
activity.

Materials Needed:
* Cardboard (or any thick board/paper like
cereal box)
* illustration board
* Balance stand (this can be made of whatever you
Nail
have on hand like wood and pound a nail up
through a piece of wood or sharp pencil and clay)
* Scissors
* Ruler wood
* Pencil

Procedure:
1. Use a ruler to draw a square on the piece of cardboard. The square can be
a size of your palm or a little larger as you wish.
2. Cut out the square.
3. Use a ruler to find the center of the square and mark it with a dot. (the easiest
way to do this is simply to align the ruler so that it connects two opposite
corners, then draw a line. Do this to the other pair of opposite corners. The
point where these lines cross is the center.) This dot where the line intersect
is called the geometric center.

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 4. Place your balance stand on the corner of a table.
5. Place the center dot of your square right on the tip of the balance point (nail
or pencil). Does it balance? If not, move it until you get it balance. This dot
where the square is balanced is called center of mass.
6. Now divide the square into to equal size and draw a line.

Illustration board
Cardboard

7. Get a board much heavier than a cardboard (like an illustration board) then
cut the square with the same size as the cardboard.
8. Place the heavier square board on top of the cardboard and paste it.
(Making sure that the other half of the square is much heavier).
9. Repeat step 3. The dot where the lines intersect is called geocentric center
10. Using the balance stand repeat step 5. Does it balance? If not move it
around until you get it balance. How far was it from the dot? This dot where
the square is balanced is called center of mass.

Guide Questions:

1. Where can you find the geometric center of a square shape object made of
cardboard? _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Where can you find the center of mass of a square shape object made of
cardboard? ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Where can you find the geometric center of a square shape object made of
cardboard and illustration board? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Where can you find the center of mass of a square shape object made of
cardboard and illustration board? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Great job! You have completed the activity. You may

take your time to review and analyze the result of your
activity and your answers.

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 E XPLAIN
Throw a baseball into the air and it will follow a smooth parabolic
trajectory. A baseball bat thrown into the air does not follow a smooth parabolic path.
The bat wobbles about a special point. This point stays on a parabolic path, even
though the rest of the bat does not. This point, is called the center of mass, is where
all the mass of an object can be considered to be concentrated. For a given body,
the center of mass is the average position of all the mass that makes up the object.
For example, in the previous activity the regularly shape object with uniform
density or object made by similar material throughout, like a square object made of
cardboard, has a center of mass at its geometrical center of the object.
On the contrast, objects not made of same material or with varying density
throughout may have the center of mass quite far from the geometric center. Consider
a hollow ball half filled with lead. The center of mass would be located somewhere
with the lead part. The ball will always roll to a stop with its center of mass as low as
possible and its center of mass id below its geometric center.
Similarly, in the previous activity when we vary the density of the square by
means of using both cardboard and illustration board, we observed that the square’s
geometric center did not change while its center of mass changes and is located
toward the heavier end.
The geometric center of a body or shape also known as centroid will always be
on the axis of symmetry. Geometric center depends on the shape of geometry and
would no change with objects property. Furthermore geometric center can lie inside
or outside of the body.
For an irregularly shaped object, the center of mass is located in the geometric
center for as long as the material is uniform density or made of the same material
throughout. Like geometric center, the center of mass may be located where no actual
material exists, or outside the object. For instance the center of mass of a ring lies at
the geometric center where no matter exist.

Now let’s see if you can locate the geometric center and center of
mass of a regular and irregular shaped object.

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 E LABORATE!
Now let us deepen our understanding by doing this another set
of activity.

Activity 2: Finding the center of mass and

geometric center of different shape

I. Regularly shaped object

Materials needed:
*Scissor * ruler
*Pencil * Pin
* Balance stand
*An illustration board (or cardboard)

Procedure A:
1. Draw a triangle on a piece of illustration board. (It
does not need to be a right angle o equilateral)
2. Cut out your triangle
3. Use a ruler to find the midpoint (center) of each side of the triangle. Mark the
midpoint of each side with a pencil.
4. Use the ruler as a straight edge (don’t have to
measure) to make a connecting line between each
midpoint and the angle that is directly opposite to it.
The place where these three lines meet will be the
center of the triangle called the geometric center.
5. Place the triangle on the balance stand and see if it
will balance on that center. If it does, that center is
also the center of mass if a triangle.

II. Irregularly shaped object

Materials needed:
*Scissor * ruler
*Pencil * Pin
* plumb bob
*An illustration board (or cardboard)
*A piece of thread or yarn
*A small nut or washer (or some other object
with a hole that can be tied on the end of a piece
of thread)

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Procedure B:
1. Draw an irregular shape (like in the figure at the
right) in an illustration board and cut it out.
2. Make three (3) holes in an irregular shape or
lamina.
3. Suspend the lamina from the pin through one of
the holes as shown
4. Suspend the plumb line from the pin and mark
the position of the plumb line on the lamina.
5. Repeat step 2-3 from the other two holes.
6. Draw lines on the lamina representing the
positions of the plumb line
7. Label the intersection of the three line as X, the position of the center of mass
of the lamina

Guide Questions:

1. Where can you find the geometric center of a triangle shaped object made of
cardboard? _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Where can you find the center of mass of a triangle shaped object made of
cardboard? ______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. How will you describe the center of mass and geometric center of a triangular
object? _________________________________________________________
4. Where can you find the geometric center of an irregularly shaped illustration
board? ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Where can you find the center of mass of a irregularly shape object made of
cardboard and illustration board? ____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. How will you describe the center of mass and geometric center of an irregularly
shaped object? ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
7. What will happen to the location of center of mass and geometric center if the
material used is not made of the same material throughout? ________________
________________________________________________________________

Great job! You have completed the activity. Take time to

review and analyze your answers.

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E XTEND!
Now let us deepen our understanding by answering
the given simple problems on finding the center of
mass and geometric center

A. In a laboratory experiment you where ask by your teacher to find for the center
of mass and geometric center of a plastic ring or hollow circle with uniform
density. The plastic ring is freely suspended first from point A and then from
point B, as shown in the figure below
A B C
C A A
B

C E
F B

F E D
D
Figure 1 D Figure 2 E Figure 3 F

When suspended from point A, point D is found to be vertically below

A. When suspended from point B, point E is vertically below B. And when
suspended C, point F is vertically below C.
On figures above, draw lines to find the position of the center of mass
of the plastic ring. It is where the 3 lines intersect. Label this point clearly with
letter G.
Answer the following questions:
1. Where can you find the center of mass of a plastic ring?______________
__________________________________________________________.
2. Where can you find the geometric center of a plastic ring? ____________
__________________________________________________________.
3. From the previous activities, what is the similarity and difference of center
of mass and geometric center? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

Great job! You have completed your task. If

you need some clarifications feel free to ask your
teacher.

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 Post-Test

E VALUATE!
1. Which of the following is TRUE about the geometric center of an object?
I. It can lie inside and outside the body
II. It will always be in the axis of symmetry
III. It would not change with property
IV. It does not depends on shape or geometry of an object.
A. I , II, and III only C. II, III and IV only
B. I, II and IV only D. I, III and IV only

2. Which of the following best describe the center of mass of an object?

A. The center of mass of an object lies inside the object.
B. The center of mass of an object lies outside the object.
C. The center of mass of an object may or may not lie inside the object.
D. The center of mass of an object is always at its geometric center.

3. The following states the difference between geometric center and center of
mass EXCEPT-----
A. Geometric center only lies inside the body while center of mass only lies
outside the body.
B. Object not made of the same material throughout may have the center of
mass quite far from the geometric center.
C. In a regularly shaped object with uniform density the center of mass lies at
the geometric center of the object.
D. In an irregularly shaped object with uniform density the center of mass lies
at the geometric center of the object.

4. Where is the center of mass and geometric center of a wheel located?

A. In the hole C. In material making up the donut
B. Over the point of support D. Near the center of gravity

5. Which of the following illustration shows the correct location of the center of
mass and geocentric center of an object?

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 Vocabulary List

The following terms used in this module are defined as follows:

CENTER OF MASS of object is the point at which all the mass of an object is
concentrated.
GEOMETRIC CENTER also known as centroid. It corresponds with the centre
of gravity in case when the body is homogeneous (with constant density)
REGULARLY SHAPE OBJECTS is that all the sides are equal and all the
inside angles are equal.
IRREGULARLY SHAPE OBJECTS doesn't have equal sides or equal angles.
UNIFORM DENSITY a region in space means that the quantity (whatever it
happens to be) is evenly-distributed everywhere within that region.
Object is made of the same material throughout
VARYING DENSITY OBJECTS a region in space means that the quantity
(whatever it happens to be) is not evenly-distributed in that region
Object is not made of the same material throughout

Answer Keys

Pre-Test Answer Key

1. C
2. D
3. B
4. A
5. C

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 Learning Activities Answer Key

ENGAGE
Pedro. Answer may vary

EXPLORE
1. The geometric center of a square shape object made of cardboard is found at
the center where the lines intersect.
2. The center of mass of a square shape object made of cardboard is found at
the center where the lines intersect. Or the center of mass is at the geometric
center of the cardboard.
3. The geometric center of a square shape object made of cardboard and
illustration board is still at the center where the lines intersect.
4. The center of mass of a square shape object made of cardboard and
illustration board is located somewhere within the illustration board which is
quite far from the geometric center.

ELABORATE

1. The geometric center of a triangle shaped object made of cardboard is located at

the point where the three lines intersect.
2. The center of mass of a triangle shaped object made of cardboard is at the
geometric center of the cardboard.
3. The location of the center of mass and geometric center of a triangular object is
the same. Both at the point where the lines intersect.
4. The geometric center of an irregularly shaped illustration board is at the point
where the lines intersect.
5. The center of mass of a irregularly shape object made of cardboard and
illustration board is located at the point where the three lines intersect.
6. The center of mass an irregularly shaped object is located at the geometric
center.
7. If the material used is not made of the same material throughout the location of
geometric center will remain the same but the center of mass will change, a
little far from the geometric center.

ELABORATE
1. The center of mass of a plastic ring is located at the center of the hole.
2. The geometric center of a plastic ring also located at the center of the hole
3. From the previous activities, the similarity center of mass and geometric
center is that the object has uniform density or is made of the same

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 material its center of mass is located at the geometric center of the object.
The difference is when the object has non-uniform density or if the object
is not made of the same material throughout the center of mass may be
quite far from the geometric center of the object.

Post-Test Answer Key

1. A
2. C
3. A
4. A
5. C

References

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/linear-momentum/center-of-
mass/a/what-is-center-of-mass
https://www.slideshare.net/danmicksee/centre-of-gravity-and-stability
https://www.tes.com/lessons/NXzjqY4NQkx2pA/force-work-power-n-energy
https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/centroid.html

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Caintic, Helen E. 2017. General Physics 1 for Senior High School. First Edition. C &
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Hewitt, Paul G. Conceptual Physics.The High School Physics Program. 2005.
Pearson Education Inc.
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