What is the center of gravity? Where will be the center of gravity of these regular shaped bodies: circular plate, rectangular and square-shaped plate, triangular shaped plate, cylinder, sphere? (Also draw figures to support your answer). Differentiate between center of mass and center of gravity.

The center of gravity is the point in a body where the total weight of the body can be considered to act. It is the point where the gravitational force can be considered to act for the purpose of analyzing motion under the influence of gravity.

Location of center of gravity for various bodies:

  • Circular plate: The center of gravity lies at the geometric center of the plate.
  • Rectangular and square-shaped plate: The center of gravity lies at the intersection of the diagonals of the plate, which is its geometric center.
  • Triangular shaped plate: The center of gravity lies at the intersection of the medians of the triangle (the point where all the three medians meet).
  • Cylinder: The center of gravity lies along the axis of the cylinder, at its center.
  • Sphere: The center of gravity is at the center of the sphere.

Difference between center of mass and center of gravity:

  • The center of mass refers to the point where the mass of an object is concentrated, while the center of gravity refers to the point where the object’s weight is considered to act under the influence of gravity.
  • For objects near the Earth’s surface, the center of mass and the center of gravity coincide, but they can differ in non-uniform gravitational fields.

Related Questions:

  1. Define center of mass. What is the effect of mass distribution in a body on its center of mass?
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  14. Why is a pencil standing on its tip unstable, and what factors affect the stability of an object balanced on a point?
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  16. Consider a situation where you swing a ball connected to a string in a circle. How does the tension in the string vary as the ball moves across different points in its circular path, and what forces are involved?
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