The center of gravity of a body is the point around which the resultant torque due to gravity forces vanishes.
Balance Point: If you support an object at its CG, it will balance perfectly without tipping.
Relation to Mass: For uniform objects of regular shape (like a sphere, cube, or cylinder), the CG is located at the geometric center.
Irregular Shapes: For unevenly shaped or weighted objects, the CG lies closer to the heavier part.
Movement: In living beings (like humans), the CG shifts depending on posture, position, and movement. For example, raising your arms moves your CG upward.
Stability: A lower CG makes an object more stable (harder to tip over). That’s why wide, low objects are steadier than tall, narrow ones.
Outside the Body: In certain positions, like a gymnast bending backward in a “bridge,” the CG can actually be outside the physical body.
Applications: Engineers, architects, athletes, and pilots all use CG concepts to improve safety, performance, and control.
Center of gravity or centre of gravity may also refer to:
- Center of Gravity (festival), an annual Canadian sport and music festival
- Center of gravity (military), a concept developed by Carl Von Clausewitz, a Prussian military theorist
- Geographical centre, sometimes known as "gravitational centre" (typically of a country, or other large region of the Earth)
