Edexcel AS Physics

Revision Notes

2.16 Centre of Gravity & The Principle of Moments

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Centre of Gravity

  • The centre of gravity (sometimes called the centre of mass) of an object is the point through which all the weight can be considered to act
  • The position of the centre of gravity of uniform regular solid is at its centre
    • For example, for a person standing upright, their centre of gravity is roughly in the middle of the body behind the navel, and for a sphere, it is at the centre

  • For symmetrical objects with uniform density, the centre of gravity is located at the point of symmetry

Point of symmetry, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

The centre of mass of a shape can be found by symmetry

Stability

  • The position of the centre of gravity of an object affects its stability
  • An object is stable when its centre of gravity lies above its base

Stability, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

The object on the right will topple, as its centre of gravity is no longer over its base

  • The wider base an object has, the lower its centre of gravity and it is more stable
  • The narrower base an object has, the higher its centre of gravity and the object is more likely to topple over if pushed

Stability 2, IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes

The most stable objects have wide bases and low centres of mass

The Principle of Moments

  • The principle of moments states:

For a system to be in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments about a point must be equal to the sum of the anticlockwise moments (about the same point)

Principle of moments, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Diagram showing the moments acting on a balanced beam

  • In the above diagram:
    • Force F2 is supplying a clockwise moment;
    • Forces F1 and F3 are supplying anticlockwise moments

  • Hence: F2 × d2 = (F1 × d1) + (F3 × d3)

Worked example

A uniform beam of weight 40 N is 5 m long and is supported by a pivot situated 2 m from one end.

When a load of weight W is hung from that end, the beam is in equilibrium, as shown in the diagram.

WE - principle of moments question image, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

What is the value of W?

A     10 N               B     50 N               C     25 N               D     30 N

WE - principle of moments answer image(1), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notesWE - principle of moments answer image(2), downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Exam Tip

Make sure that all the distances are in the same units and you’re considering the correct forces as clockwise or anticlockwise, as seen in the diagram belowClockwise or anticlockwise moment, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

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Lindsay Gilmour

Author: Lindsay Gilmour

Lindsay graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Greenwich and earned her Science Communication MSc at Imperial College London. Now with many years’ experience as a Head of Physics and Examiner for A Level and IGCSE Physics (and Biology!), her love of communicating, educating and Physics has brought her to Save My Exams where she hopes to help as many students as possible on their next steps.