What is Center of Gravity?

Hello readers, physics is one of the crucial and fundamental subjects in our lives. Physics applies to every part of your body, even when you walk or stand. At that moment the gravity makes you stand or walk on the earth. Gravity is the most vital topic in the area of physics.

We all knew the story of the apple falling from the tree and the newton sitting under the tree, and after observing the apple, he found the gravitational force. Therefore in this article, we will provide you information about the center of gravity. However, Before we tell you about the center of gravity, we need to know about gravity. 

What is gravity?

Gravity or gravitation is the force of attraction that attracts acting between all matter in the earth. Gravity or gravitational force is on the world since the origin of our universe. It is like a magnetic force. For example, one magnet attracts the other, just like that earth is full of gravitational force that attracts our body or matters towards it. 

Newton feels the presence of gravity.

Gravity is very crucial in our lives because Without the presence of gravity. We are fly right off the planet. There is no gravitational force in outer space, Which is why the astronauts are floating in the air in outer space. Therefore you have seen lots of pictures of astronauts floating in outer space.

As we know, physics is the subject that is involved in every moment of our life, and the gravitation force is the part of physics, with the help which we can stand on the earth. The gravitational force is the reason newton created the three laws of gravity. The three laws are:

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What is the center of gravity?

The center of gravity refers to the point through which the resultant of the weight of all the particles of the body acts.

Importance of center of gravity

The Centre of gravity matches with the center of mass if g is consistent. But for a big matter g will diversify. Hence, the center of gravity does not match with the center of mass.

1. The first importance of the center of gravity is that the Centre of gravity enormously clarifies computations including gravitation force and dynamics to be able to treat the mass of an object as if it is concentrated at one tip.

2. Following that, The center of gravity is based on weight, whereas the center of mass is based on mass. So, when the gravitational area beyond an object is uniform, the two are the same. But, when the object invades a spatially-varying gravitational area, the center of gravity will shift closer to areas of the object in a more powerful range, whereas the center of mass is stable.

So, These are the Importance of the center of gravity, which plays a vital role in the area of physics to the research center in many projects. 

What is the center of gravity of the human body?

center of gravity in human body
Centre of Gravity of a Human Body.

The center of gravity of the human body is the imaginary point throughout which the force of gravity seems to act. It is the area where the whole mass of the body is concentrated, and just because it is an imaginary point, the center of gravity need not rest in the physical bounds of a thing or body.

In the straight standing position, the center of gravity lies approximately all in the middle part of the body. yet, since the human bodies never always stay in the straight standing position. Therefore, The exact position of the center of gravity varies continually with every new position of the body. The bodily balances of the self will also influence the position of the center of gravity. 

Stability and the Centre of Gravity

The force of gravity is directed downwards through the body, Therefore, the center of gravity is directed towards the center of the earth. To understand the line of gravity it is necessary to know and conceive when preparing a person’s capacity to successfully maintain Stability.

When the line of gravity comes outside the Base of which the body takes supports like its legs, then a reaction is required to stay stable. 

stability and center of gravity
Centre of Mass of a body to balance their weight

 When the line of gravity is in the Base of which the body takes supports, an object or person is considered stable.

If the line of gravity falls outside the Base of which the body takes supports, the object or person is considered unstable. Given that The line of gravity must fall in the Base of which the body takes supports to satisfy the guidelines for stability. The guidelines are as follow:

  • The line of gravity must travel a larger distance to fall outside the Base of which the body takes supports. Thus, the A larger the base increases stability.
  • The lower the center of gravity increased stability.

Application of center of gravity in sports

Application of center of gravity in sports
Use of Centre of Gravity in Sports

As we know that our body has a different weight in a different part of the body because each of the body parts is an individual component of the body like legs, arms. so the point is, about which the division of these individual weights is balanced, is the center of gravity of the body.

So, it is more like to say that if body mass is more in the upper body then it has more center of gravity towards the upper body. the average person’s body has the center of gravity above the waist of his body.

So, as we know the center of gravity has an impact on our body. Therefore, there is a massive impact of the center of gravity towards the sports. Let us discuss the properties of the center of gravity that have a great impact on sports. The properties are as follows:

  • All the athletes have a well-maintained physique and whenever they play any sports which required running and they need to bends their legs will lower their center of gravity position. The athlete’s body is to take various shapes, the position of the center of gravity will shift. This will result in greater stability.

So, this is one of the impacts of the center of gravity on sports.

Center of mass

The Center of the mass of a body or in the system of bodies is a point at which the entire mass of a body or system of bodies, is supposed to be concentrated. If all the external force acting on the body or system of bodies were to be applied at the center of the mass, the state of rest motion on the body or system of bodies shall remain unaffected.

COM
Centre Of Mass (Image From nagwa.com)

What is the center of mass?

The center of mass is the point of an object or body that goes on the linear motion after applied force towards the point. Every object having a mass has its center of mass. It is like a point of an object where we can assume that all the mass of the object is concentrated. 

What is the importance of a center of mass?

As we know that every object has its mass and because of which it is necessary to have the center of mass. But, the center of mass has its importance. let us discuss the importance of the center of mass in detail. These can even be considered as examples of the center of mass. The importance is as follows:

  1. The decay of radioactive nucleus: If a radioactive nucleus at stay decays into two pieces. The two pieces fly independently in different areas following the law of conservation of momentum. But their center of mass of the two pieces proceeds to beat rest. It is because of the case that the original nucleus was at rest.
  2. The blast of cracker: Suppose a cracker that blasts in the air. Before the blast, the cracker travels simultaneously a parabolic path. While in flight, it blasts. Every particle follows its parabolic path. But the center of mass of all the particles continues to travel simultaneously the same parabolic path. It is because as there was no outer force & the blast is caused by inner force only.

What is the difference between the center of gravity and center of mass?

The difference between the center of gravity and the center of mass is that the center of mass is the point of the object that where all the mass is divided in all different directions equally, but it does not depend on the gravitational field.

COM and COG
Difference between COM and COG (Image From byjus.com)

On the other hand, the center of gravity is the point of the object where all the weight is divided into different directions equally, but it is dependent on the gravitational force.

For example, Mount Everest is 8848 meters high and the gravitational field has the strength and, yet It is 99.6% of its regular value.

Conclusion

So, the reader from the above article tried to explain to you all about the center of gravity and center of mass. It also explains to you the impacts or importance of the center of gravity in our lives and sports. we all knew physics is a very vital and basic subject that implies in our life and the center of gravity and center of mass is the basic topic of the physics that implies in our lives.

Frequently Asked Question(FAQ)

1.What is the Centre of gravity explain with an example?

Answer: The center of gravity refers to the point through which the resultant of the weight of all the particles of the body acts. For example, when you try to balance the small board in your forefinger. Then you have to keep it at the center of the board. So, it is the center of gravity of that board.

2.Is the Centre of mass the same as the Centre of gravity?

Answer: No, the Centre of mass is not the same as the Centre of gravity. the center of mass is the point of the object that where all the mass is divided in all different directions equally, but it does not depend on the gravitational field. On the other hand, the center of gravity is the point of the object where all the weight is divided into different directions equally, but it is dependent on the gravitational force.

3.What is the importance of the Centre of gravity?

Answer: The importance of the center of gravity is that it enormously clarifies computations including gravitation force and stability.

4.Where is the Centre of gravity on Earth?

Answer: the Centre of gravity on Earth is around 1700 km below the surface of the Earth.

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