Mechanical Equilibrium

Описание: An object’s center of mass is defined as the mean position of the object’s entire mass distribution. The location of the center of mass does not necessarily reside within the object and can also be changed based on changes in the mass distribution. In the first demonstration, a mass is suspended inside a tilted structure. The center of mass of the structure + suspended mass lies within the base of the titled structure, and the structure remains standing upright. As the suspended mass is moved towards the leaning side of the structure, the center of mass moves closer to the edge of the base. At a critical point, the center of mass moves outside of the structure’s base, and the entire structure falls to the ground. In the second demonstration, there are three toys which, upon initial inspection, appear to be precariously balanced on small pivot points. However, each of these objects is designed so that its center of mass is located below the pivot point. If one of these toys is tipped in any direction, its center of mass is raised, and gravity exerts a restoring force, which pulls it back towards the original upright position.