Center of mass

High school (ages 12+)
Mathematics & Numbers

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/center-of-mass

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the application in dynamics?Allows analysis of translational motion independent of rotational motion for rigid bodies
2. What is the stability criterion?A lower center of mass generally increases an object's stability
3. Why do tall, narrow objects tip over more easily?Because their center of mass is higher, so it can move past the base of support and cause the object to fall.
4. How do astronauts use the center of mass?In space, knowing the center of mass helps engineers design spacecraft so they fly on the right path and stay steady.

Center of Mass: The unique point where the weighted average of an object's mass is concentrated.