Center of Mass

What is Center of Mass?

The point at which an object's entire mass can be considered concentrated for the purposes of analysing motion or balance. Its location depends only on how mass is distributed, not on the local gravitational field, which is why it's distinct from, though often confused with, centre of gravity.

The five clues

Engineerdle #16 described Center of Mass with five clues, revealed one at a time from hardest to most direct. Each clue points at a different property of the concept.

1. 01A single point that represents where an object's mass seems to concentrate.
2. 02Balance an irregular shape on your fingertip and you've found it by trial and error.
3. 03For a uniform object it coincides with the geometric centre.
4. 04A tightrope walker's pole works by shifting it lower and wider.
5. 05It's the point about which an object's mass is evenly distributed in every direction.

More Dynamics concepts

• Coefficient of FrictionPuzzle #21
• Newton's Third LawPuzzle #2