Experiment 4: Center of Gravity and Equilibrium

Laboratory Report

Jewelyn See, Fiona Theresa Superable, Chynna Samantha Sy, Edward Joseph Tucay, Jerome
Valeriano, and Vincent Marvin Yongco

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines

Abstract that the resultant force acting on an object

The experiment was an application of the
center of gravity, equilibrium, and torque.
Center of gravity is known as the center of
mass, the point wherein the entire weight of
the body is concentrated at, so that when
supported, it will remain at equilibrium in
any position. In the first set up, a meter stick
was placed into equilibrium, then it was
positioned to shift the point of support from
the equilibrium to a different part of the stick.
Weights were positioned in such a way that
the set up was balanced once again. In the
second set up, the point of support was at 30
cm, then weights, 200 g, 100 g, and 20 g, were
placed at marks 10 cm, 20 cm, and 90 cm,
respectively. Finally, with a 50 g weight
positioned on the other side of the set up, so
that the set up was balanced. This
combination of weight and distance depicts a
rotational equilibrium set up.
1. Introduction
Equilibrium refers to a state of balance
wherein neither the state of motion nor the
internal energy state of a system changes with
time. There are two conditions for an object
to be in equilibrium. The first condition states
must be equal to zero for it to be in
translational equilibrium. This condition is
applied when an object is at rest or moving at
a constant velocity. The second condition, on
the other hand, states that the sum of the
moments or torques acting on a body must be
equal to zero in order for it to be in rotational
equilibrium. There is no angular acceleration
which means that the body is at rest or
moving at a constant angular velocity.
Torque or moment of force changes the
state of rotational motion of a body, causing
it to acquire angular acceleration. It is a
measure of the force that causes a body to
rotate about an axis and is operationally
defined as the product of the torque arm or
lever arm and the force perpendicular to that
lever arm. A positive torque produces a
counterclockwise rotation while a negative
torque rotates a body in a clockwise direction.
When the sum of all the clockwise and
counterclockwise torque is equal to zero, the
body is said to be in equilibrium.
The center of mass is the average position
of all the particles of mass in an object while
the center of gravity of an object is a point
where gravity appears to act. In a completely
uniform gravitational field, both the center of
mass and the center of gravity of an object are
located at the same point. Therefore, the
center of gravity of an object is the average
position of its weight distribution.
This experiment aimed to observe how
the weight of the meter stick, on which the
forces acted, behaved like a force
concentrated at its center of gravity and to
determine the conditions of equilibrium for
several parallel forces.
2. Theory
Force has a rotational counterpart called
Torque. While force changes the linear
motion of an object, torque is affects the
object’s rotational motion. Where 𝜏 = torque,
F = perpendicular force, and 𝜄 = lever arm,
torque can be defined using the following
formula:
𝜏 = 𝐹 ∗ 𝜄
A torque is taken as negative when it
produces a clockwise rotation, and positive
when it produces a counterclockwise rotation.
In the next formula, it shows that at
equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise and
counterclockwise torque is equal to zero:
Σ 𝜏𝑐𝑤 + 𝜏𝑐𝑐 = 0
The average position of all particles
of mass that constitute the object is the center
mass of the given object. Center of gravity is
also knowns as the center of mass, the
acceleration due to gravity that is uniform
within the object. Hence, center of gravity is
the average position of weight distribution.
3. Methodology
A. The weight of the meter stick as a
force acting at its center of gravity
The meter stick was placed on the
platform balance for the determination of its
mass. In computing its weight, the group used
the measuring unit in dynes. Afterwhich,
meter stick was balanced on an iron ring to
locate its center of gravity. In addition to this,
the meter stick was also supported other than
its center of gravity and brought into
equilibrium by suspending the weight of a
single mass. The value of the mass, its weight
and the torque arm of the required mass was
then recorded as well as the mass of the clamp
and hanger in recording the value of the mass
added. For the experimental weight of the
meter stick, the group measured it using a top
loading balance. Moreover, the actual value
of the weight of the meter stick as well as the
percentage error was calculated.
B. Equilibrium for several parallel
forces
The meter stick was supported around the
30-cm mark. Then, 2 pieces of 100-g mass
were hanged at the 10-cm mark, another 100-
g mass at the 20-cm mark, and 20-g mass at
the 90-cm mark. Afterwhich, a 50-g mass
was hung at a specific position that produced
a rotational equilibrium. In addition to this,
the group ensured that all clamps and weight
hangers were included and that all of their
masses were converted into force equivalents.
A diagram of the setup was illustrated after
doing so. Finally, the group computed for the
torque arm of the 50-g mass as well as the
percentage error.
 C. Materials used
a. Meter
b. Iron ring (narrow support)
c. Weights (200 g 100 g, 20 g
mass)
d. Weight hangers
e. Meter stick
f. Top loading balance Figure 4: Equilibrium Set-up
g. Clamp
4. Results and Discussion
Table 1: The weight of the meter stick as a
force acting at its center of gravity
Position of the center of 50 cm
gravity
Position of the meter stick 34.4 cm
support
Figure 1: Weight of the meter stick Mass required for 100 g
equilibrium
Weight of the required mass 98,000
dynes
Position of the required 20 cm
mass
Torque arm for the required 14.4 cm
mass
Figure 2: 200-g mass at the 10-cm mark Torque producing 1,411,200
and 100-g mass at the 20-cm mark equilibrium
Torque arm for the weight of 15.6 cm
the meter stick
Weight of the meter stick 90,963.6
(experimental value) dynes
Weight of the meter stick 90,461.5
(actual value) dynes
Absolute Error 0.0056
Figure 3: 50-g mass at the 71-cm mark
and 20-g mass at the 90-cm mark Percentage Order 0.56%
Table 2: Equilibrium for several parallel principles of torque and the principles of
forces rotational equilibrium, can the torque arm, for
Mass Forces Torque Direction Torque a specific external weight, be solved. There
(g) (dynes) Arm (cw or was only a percentage error of 2.91% of the
(cm) cc) computed torque arm to the actual torque arm.
200.00 196,000 20 cc 3,920,000 The reason behind the percentage error of
100.00 98,000 10 cc 980,000 both parts of the experiment can be human
ms 90,963.6 20 cw 1,819,272 error such as a miscalculation or misreading
20.00 19,600 60 cw 1,176,000
of data; or maybe the fact that the values used
did not contain all the decimal places needed
50.00 49,000 40 cw 1,960,000
to have an accurate answer.

Computed Torque Arm for the 50 g mass = 5. Conclusion

38.87 cm
Percentage Error = 2.91%
By means of using the principle that
states that the sum of the clockwise and the
counterclockwise torque equals to zero, one
can solve for the weight of the stick or rod by
just using one weight or force that pushes the
stick/rod down in any direction. From the
data that was computed, the data gathered can
be enough to accurately solve for the weight
of the meter stick. This is proven by a small
percentage error which is just a 0.55%. The
physics in the solving for the weight lies in
the fact that the meter stick should be in
equilibrium. It is said that the weight of the
meter stick is mainly located at its center of
gravity. In the experiment, the center of
gravity was used as a weight that would pull
down the meter stick in a rotational motion;
but with the use of another weight on another
end, the meter stick could achieve rotational
equilibrium. Thus, by using the equilibrium
principle mentioned earlier, the weight of the
meter stick can be solved.
From this experiment, it is concluded that
the center of gravity can be of an object that
depends on how the mass is distributed –
whether it be suspended by another weight or
not. Based from the results, it is also
concluded that the center of equilibrium was
achieved successfully due to a small
percentage error of 2.91%. Consequently, the
use of another weight on another end of the
meter stick generated a rotational equilibrium.
By convention, this means that the sum of all
the torque acting on the meter stick equals
zero.
6. Applications
1) Define the following:
a. the moment of a force
The moment of a force is also known
as torque, which refers to the measure of a
force’s tendency to yield torsion and rotation
about an axis. Its magnitude is equal to the
vector product of the force and the
perpendicular distance from the axis of
rotation to the line of action of the force.

The same concept applies to the second b. the center of gravity

part of the experiment, wherein using the
 Center of gravity refers to the point at
which the gravitational potential energy of
the body is equal to that of an object having
uniform mass located at that point and
through which the resultant of the
gravitational forces on the component of the
body acts.
2) Differentiate translational and
rotational equilibrium
Translational equilibrium refers to a
balanced system, meaning, an object is at rest
or having a uniform linear velocity (zero
acceleration) with several forces acting on it.
On the other hand, rotational equilibrium
occurs when an object is at rest or having a
uniform angular velocity (zero angular
acceleration) with several torques acting on it.
3) An uniform rod 1.00 m long weighs
150.0 N and is supported on some
fulcrum. Weights of 40.0 N and 50.0
N are suspended from the two ends
of the rod. Find the position of the
fulcrum if the system is in
equilibrium.
𝜀𝜏 = 0
40 (0.5 + x ) + 150 (x) – 50 (0.5 – x) = 0
20 + 40x + 150x – 25 + 50x = 0
-5 + 240x = 0
-5 = -240x
x = 0.0208 m
0.5 + x:
0.5 + 0.0208 m = 0.5208 m
0.5 – x:
0.5 – 0.0208 m = 0.4792 m
4) A uniform rod 10.0 m long and
weighing 150.0 N is supported
horizontally by props P and R a
distance of 2.0 m and 8.0 m from
one end. Weights of 250.0 N, 100.0
N and 120.0 N are attached at
distances of 1m, 7m, and 10m
respectively from the same end.
Find the force on each prop.
P + R = F1I1 + F2I2 + F3I3 + F4I4
If fulcrum is placed on R:
P = (250N)(7m) + (150N)(3m) +
(100N)(1m) + (120N) (2m)
P = 2540 N
FPIP = 2540 N
FP (6m) = 2540 N
FP = 423.33 N
If fulcrum is placed on P:
R = (250N)(1m) + (150N)(3m) +
(100N)(5m) + (120N) (8m)
R = 2160 N
FRIR = 2160 N
FR (6m) = 2160 N
Fp = 360 N
7. References
[1] Verterra, R. (2018). Moment of a force.
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