Finding Center of Gravity Concept

Demonstrations in Finding Center of Gravity

Irregularly shaped wooden board suspended from a horizontal rod, with several red chalk lines drawn across it intersecting near the center; a yellow surveyor's chalk line hangs as a plumb bob

Center of Gravity Board

Experimentally locates the center of gravity of an irregular board by hanging it from different points and marking plumb lines. Students see that the CG must lie along every vertical …
Four-panel sequence: person in red sweater holding a uniform meter stick horizontally, sliding hands inward from the ends until they meet at the center

Center of Meter Stick

Sliding hands along a meter stick always converge at the center of mass, regardless of starting position. Comparing a uniform stick (hands meet at 50 cm) with a weighted stick …
Wooden disk with concentric orange ring centered on the geometric center

Loaded Disk

Demonstrates that rotation appears smooth when viewed about the center of mass but wobbles when viewed about the geometric center. Students see directly why center of mass is the natural …