For topics 5.3 Contre of Gravity 54 Stal @& au id your understanding! = Attempt the following questions on your own or in a group setting. 1. (a) Define centre of gravity. ‘The centre of gravity of an object is defined as the point through which its whole weight appears to act for any orientation of the object. {b) A 300 g walking stick is balanced by a 100 g mass placed 15 cm from a pivot in Figure 5.10, How far from the pivot is the centre of gravity of the stick? 1009 “Figure 5.10 ieem ‘Taking moments zbout pivot, for rotational equilibrium: 3Nxx=1Nx 15 em =ex=Som 2, (a) You are supplied with a plane mirror (Figure 5.11), a concave mirror (Figure 5.12), a convex mirror (Figure 5.13) and three small rubber balls. Indicate on Figures 5.11 to 5.13 where you would place the balls to illustrate the three kinds of equilibrium—stable, unstable and neutral. 2 >> O- TTT AT Fp FIP PYFTTAF Prez SeeF a7 7 Figure 5.11 Figure 5.12 Figure 5.13 (i) Figure 5.11 shows —_neutral__ equilibrium, (ii) Figure 5.12 shows Sle __ equilibrium. (iii) Figure 5.13 shows unstable _ equilibrium. 44 Turning Etlect of Forces (© 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (S) Pte Ltd(b) Explain the following observations: (i) The base of a Bunsen burner is designed to be large and heavy. Having a large base ensures that the vertical line through the centre of gravity of the object I ie within the base ofthe object when itis tilted while having a heavy base ensures that the centre of gravity is low. Therefore the Bunsen burner will be very stable. (ii) An inverted empty conical flask (Figure 5.14) is easier to balance than an identical inverted flask filled partially with sand (Figure 5.15). Figure 5.14 ‘Figure 5.15 By filling the top of the conical flask with sand, the centre of gravity of the conical flask is shifted upwards. A high centre of gravity coupled with a small base area will make the object very unstable. Can you identity whether an object isin stable, unstable or neutral equilibrium? Cen you describe qualitatively how the position ofthe centre of gravity affects the stability of an object? To make it easy to balance your friends on the see-saw, which single point on each of |} their bodies should you take as the point where their weight is acting at? What is this point called? (© 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (S) Pte Ltd Physics Matters Workbook Volume 1 45€& challenge yoursel ‘Attempt the following questions on your own, You are advised to spend no more than the time indicated. 1. Figure 5.16 shows an irregular-shaped object cut out from an aluminium sheet of uniform thickness. It hangs freely from a nail at position X. An iron block is attached to the aluminium sheet as shown, Which position is most likely to be the centre of gravity of the alumiaium sheet and iron block setup? 516 2. Two egg-shaped objects X and Y have plastic shells and a piece of lead embedded inside at different positions as shown in Figure 5.17. Both objects are in a state of equilibrium. lead plastic shell

So that the toy can hang on the support 46 Turning Etfect of Forces (© 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (S) Pte Ltd