Center of Mass

Principles Illustrated: Center of Mass

Location: Cabinet A, Shelf 2

Also a novelty wine rack, the floating bottle illusion is a dramatic illustration of the center of mass.

As long as the center of mass lies directly above the base, this configuration will remain upright.

Principles Illustrated: Center of Mass determination

Location: Cabinet A, Shelf 2

Steel sheets, of various shapes, are suspended at different points (holes). A plumb bob is included to aid in drawing lines from the points of suspension towards the ground. The intersection of the lines occurs at the center of mass of the shape.

Principles Illustrated: Effect of Center of Mass

Location: Cabinet A, Shelf 2

The removable top to this demo is asymmetrically weighted. By careful rotation, the 'leaning tower' either stands or falls over as the center of mass moves from within the area of the base to outside of it.

Principles Illustrated: Center of Mass motion

Location: Cabinet A, Shelf 2

A classic illusion that demonstrates that it is the motion of the center of mass of a body that should be attended to.

Doubly tapered cylinders seem to roll up a V-shaped set of rails when the center of mass of the cylinders is uniformly lowering.