What is the center of gravity?

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What is the center of gravity and can it be moved? What would happen if it moved?

In: Physics

8 Answers

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You can think of it as the balancing point. If you set the object on your finger, or a pencil, and keep the center of gravity directly above where the support touches, it won’t tip over.

For a person, the center of gravity is in the middle of your abdomen and a bit lower than your belly button, assuming you’re standing naturally.

If you’re a person with moving parts, you can definitely move your center of gravity. The easy way is to change your posture – if you swing both arms off to the right (like a dab) your center of gravity will move right a little bit. If you wanted to permanently shift your center of gravity, you’d have to cut something off.

If you’re walking on a log or a tightrope, and you start to lose your balance, all that wild arm-waving and leg-throwing you instinctively do is trying to get your center of gravity back above your foot, where you need it to be.

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