Center of Mass

Related Physics Education Research

None that I'm aware of.

Overview of Worksheet

Students investigate the balance point of progressively more complicated objects. The last half asks students to calculate the balance point of a rod with non-uniform density using Riemann sums (without using that terminology).

Approximate Time

Three hours.

Required Student Background

There is really no background required, since all students bring with them a good deal of experience about balancing objects. Students do not need to know about Riemann sums or integration to do this worksheet.

Connections to the Tutorials

The tutorials do not explicitly discuss calculation of the center of mass, so this worksheet complements the tutorial on conservation of momentum.

Required Equipment

Rulers, hanging weights, and any kind of balancing toys you might have. We have a bird that balances on its beak and wine bottle that balances in a piece of wood that rests at about a 45 degree angle to the table.

Evaluation of Worksheet

On the test, students who did this worksheet got 83% correct on a question which asked them to calculate the center of mass of a bar of non-uniform density.