manual

18
Stable equilibrium:
when the center of
gravity is lower than
the point of support
support (pivot)
point
center of gravity
support (pivot)
point
center of
gravity
center of
gravity
Unstable equilibrium:
when the center of
gravity is higher than
the point of support
Every object has a center of gravity, which is the
point at which you can imagine its weight being
concentrated.
A suspended body is balanced when the
point of support is in line with its center
of gravity
.
A body is in stable equilibrium (easily balanced) when its
center of gravity is below the pivot point.
T
ight rope walkers (funambulists) make use of this concept in designing their
balancing pole. Funambulists car
r
y dr
ooping (not rigid) poles, sometimes with
heavy weights at the end. This puts their center of gravity
below the wire and
makes it much easier to balance.