center of mass
Where weight concentrates
The center of mass is the point in an object or system where all its mass can be considered to be concentrated for purposes of analyzing motion.
For a uniform object like a sphere, this point lies at the geometric center; for irregular objects or systems of multiple bodies, it may fall outside any physical material.
When you balance a broomstick on your finger, you're finding its center of mass.
In physics, external forces acting on a body can be treated as if they act at this single point, which simplifies calculations enormously.
Mean position of figure
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- torqueRotational force measurement
- dynamicsStudy of forces
kinematics · velocity · acceleration · particle · mechanics · barycenter · equilibrium
Measure of heaviness
- gravitationMutual pull between masses
- attractionPull toward something
- orbitCurved celestial path
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
fall · g-force · satellite · celestial · barycenter · free-fall · weightlessness
Rotation reference line
- pivotPoint of rotation
- fulcrumLever's balance point
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
wobble · precession · tumble · gimbal · rotor · spindle · revolve · oscillate
State of balance
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
poise · steadiness · proportion · support · lean · topple · ballast · counterweight
centroid
Mean position of figure
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- torqueRotational force measurement
dynamics · kinematics · velocity · acceleration · particle · mechanics · barycenter · equilibrium
weight
Measure of heaviness
- gravitationMutual pull between masses
- attractionPull toward something
- orbitCurved celestial path
planetary · fall · g-force · satellite · celestial · barycenter · free-fall · weightlessness
axis
Rotation reference line
gyroscope · wobble · precession · tumble · gimbal · rotor · spindle · revolve · oscillate · swivel
equilibrium
State of balance
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- distributionAllocation across recipients
alignment · poise · steadiness · proportion · support · lean · topple · ballast · counterweight
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- gravitygravity, graviton, gravity well, gravitational pull, gravity wave
- Centerscore, hub, nucleus, middle, focal point
- Mechanical Engineeringmechanical engineer, design engineer, valves, motors, aerospace engineer
- center pointscentroid, midpoint, core, nucleus
- equilibriumequilibrium, balance, stable equilibrium, unstable equilibrium, static equilibrium
center of massperiphery
Boundary or outer region
outer edge · extremity · surface · boundary · perimeter
center of masscentroid
Mean position of figure
vertex · corner · apex · center of gravity
mass, center, central, concentrate, concentration, centered, centers, centering, centerpiece