Stability and the Centre of Mass

• The centre of mass is the point at which the mass of the object acts
• It always found the along the axis of symmetry on regular shapes
  

You can find the centre of mass of a piece of paper by:

1) Hanging it, along with a a plumbline from one point. Draw a line down the plumb line.

2) Repeat step one but hanging the plumbline and paper from a different point.

3) Where the two lines cross is the centre of mass

• If an object's line of action of its weight lies outside its base, it will topple over.
• The line of action starts from the centre of mass and acts as force downwards.

Stability can be increased by:

• Lowering the centre of mass
• Making the base wider