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Cog Updated

The document outlines the concepts of centre of gravity and equilibrium, detailing specific objectives for learners to define and experimentally determine the centre of gravity, identify states of equilibrium, and solve related problems. It explains the conditions necessary for equilibrium, the three states (stable, unstable, neutral), and factors affecting stability, such as base area and centre of gravity position. Additionally, it discusses practical applications of stability in contexts like racing cars and Bunsen burners.

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wamoyimichael53
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17 views29 pages

Cog Updated

The document outlines the concepts of centre of gravity and equilibrium, detailing specific objectives for learners to define and experimentally determine the centre of gravity, identify states of equilibrium, and solve related problems. It explains the conditions necessary for equilibrium, the three states (stable, unstable, neutral), and factors affecting stability, such as base area and centre of gravity position. Additionally, it discusses practical applications of stability in contexts like racing cars and Bunsen burners.

Uploaded by

wamoyimichael53
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Equilibrium and centre of gravity

• Specific objectives
• Content
Specific objectives
By the end of this topic, the learner
should be able to:
a) define centre of gravity;
b) determine experimentally the centre of
gravity of lamina objects;
c) identify and explain the states of
equilibrium;
d) state and explain factors affecting
stability of an object;
e) explain the applications of stability;
f) solve numerical problems involving
centre of gravity and moments of a
force.
Content
• Centre of gravity (Experimental treatment
required)
• States of equilibrium
• Factors affecting stability
• Problems on centre of gravity and moments
of a force(consider single pivot only)
Centre of gravity
• In the foregoing experiments, it was
noted that the metre rule only balances at
one particular point.

• This point is called the centre of gravity.


• This rule is said to be in state of balance
or equilibrium.
• This is the point of application of the
resultant force of gravity(weight)due to
earth attraction on the body.
• A body can be regular of irregular.
Centre of gravity of a regular
shapes
• The centre of gravity is at the
geometrical centre.
• This point can be located through
geometrical construction as shown
below.
Centre of gravity of regular shapes
Centre of gravity of irregular
objects
• A lamina is an example of an
irregular object.
• A lamina is a thin sheet of
metal/paper or skin.
• The experiment below describes the
process of establishing the c.o.g of a
lamina.
Experiment 1
• Objective: to determine the centre of gravity
of a lamina
• Apparatus:
plumbline,thread,stand,cardboard.
Procedure
• Make three holes at different edges of the
lamina and label them A,B and C.
• Suspend by the a rod through hole A.
• Tie the plumb line by the rod beside the
cardboard.
• Draw a vertical on the lamina as set by
the plumb line.
• Repeat (i) –(iii) for holes C and B.
• Locate the point of intersection of the
three lines.
• Balance the lamina with the tip of the
pencil/finger at the point of intersection
and note the observation.
• The lamina balances by the point of
intersection of the lines.
• This point is known as the centre of
gravity.
Equilibrium
• A body is said to be in equilibrium when
all forces acting on a body balance one
another .
• The following are conditions necessary
for a body to be in equilibrium
Conditions
• The net force on the body must be
zero
• The sum of clockwise moment on
the body about a given point must be
equal to the sum of anticlockwise
moment about the same point .
State of equilibrium

• Three states:
a) Stable.
b)Unstable
c) Neutral
Stable
• The line of action of the weight
passes through the base area of the
body.(see the fig below)
• When titled by applying a small force, the line
of action still passes through the base area.
• The body goes back to its original
position when the applied force is
removed.
• The moment of the weight causes the
body to go back to its original position.
Unstable Equilibrium
• The body has small base area on
which it rests.
• Applied force lowers the position of
the centre of gravity.
• The centre of gravity is raised.
• Any slight applied force causes the
line of action of the weight to fall
outside the base area. See(b)
Neutral Equilibrium
• The force applied does not change
the position of the centre of gravity.
Factors Affecting Stability of
Objects
• Stability of any object on the position of
the centre of gravity and the turning
effect of the weight about a point.
• Two factors:
a) the area of the base.
b) the position of the centre of gravity.
the area of the base.
• The body with broad base is more stable;
because the line of action of the weight
falls through its base area irrespective of
the angle of tilt.
The position of the centre of
gravity
• The body is more stable if the position of
its centre of gravity is low as possible.
• The Cog is lowered by making the base
heavier. e.g. the base of the Bunsen
burner.
Applications of Stability
• Has a various applications:
a) Racing cars have wider wheel base
and low centre of gravity to allow
large angle of tilt.
b) A Bunsen burner has a wide heavy
base to lower its Cog and provide
large angle of tilt before toppling.

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