The lower the center of gravity is on an object, the more stable the object is. If you have someone trying to push you over, what do you do? You bend your legs and stand with your feet wider apart. This position lowers your center of gravity and it also broadens your base of support. This position allows you to become much more stable. Look at the downhill ski racer. HIs body is quite low, and it is supported by a stable platform because his feet are positioned apart. There are many applications of changing your center of gravity in sports. Can you think of another example?
The location of the center of gravity is a consideration in the design of vehicles. Cars that have a high center of gravity are more likely to tip over and roll. Sports cars and race cars are built with a very low center of gravity. This low center of gravity makes the cars drive better, especially around corners. Some vehicles have actually been removed from the market because their center of gravity was too high, which made the vehicle unsafe.
If the object is composed of a single material and has a simple shape, like a brick or a book, the center of gravity is easy to find. In the case of a book, the center of gravity and the center of the book are the same. If you were to try to balance a book or a couch cushion on the end of your finger, you would have a pretty good idea of where to put your finger in order to try to balance it—in the middle.
Lower Center of Gravity
Which would you expect to have a lower center of gravity, a minivan or a sports car? Why?
