MASS, WEIGHT AND CENTRE OF MASS

(a)MASS: It is the measure of the amount of matter in an object. SI unit is the kilogram (kg).

INSTRUMENTS
Bathroom scale, Electronic balance, Beam balance, Lever Arm balance

(b)INERTIA: The tendency of objects to resist any changes made to their state of motion. Inertia depends
on the mass of an object i.e. the larger the mass the higher the inertia.

is directly proportional to the gravitational field strength g. i.e. W ∝ g

(c)WEIGHT: The pull or force of gravity acting on an object. The weight of an object at a particular place

The above expression can be written as an equation and we get;

W = mg

Where W is weight (N)

m is mass (Kg)
g is gravitational field strength (N/Kg)

S.I. unit used to measure weight is a Newton (N).

INSTRUMENTS USED

- Spring balance

(d)CENTRE OF MASS: It is the point where the mass appears to be concentrated inside or outside the
object.

CENTRE OF MASS OF PLANE LAMINAS

(a) A METRE RULE OF UNIFORM THICKNESS

(b) A RECTANGULAR CARD OF UNIFORM THICKNESS

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(c) A DISC OF UNIFORM THICKNESS

(d) A RING OF UNIFORM THICKNESS

(e) A CUBE OF UNIFORM DENSITY

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 DETERMINING CENTRE OF MASS OF AN IRREGULAR LAMINA
SET UP

PROCEDURE

- Cut the cardboard to an irregular lamina

- Make a hole A in the lamina and hang it so that it can swing freely on a nail clamped on stand
- Hang a weight and string from the same nail and mark the plumbline position (the vertical line
formed by the string) on the cardboard AB.
- Hang the lamina from another position C and mark plumbline position CD
- Repeat the step above for another position EF.
- The center of mass is the point of intersection of the lines AB, CD and EF.

STABILITY

Three terms are used in connection with the word stability.

(a) STABLE EQUILIBRIM: An object returns to its position after being slightly displaced.

(b) UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM: The object falls or moves further from the original position
when slightly displaced.

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 (c) NEUTRAL EQUILIBRIUM: When an object is in neutral equilibrium it moves to a new
position when displaced.

FACTORS AFFECTING STABILITY

The stability of an object is increased by:

(i) Increasing the area of the base

(ii) Lowering the center of mass of an object

TOPPLING: An object topples/falls when the vertical line through its center of mass falls
outside the base i.e Center of mass acts outside the base.
(a) STABLE

Clockwise moment (w*d) makes the object to be stable.

(b) TOPPLES

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 An anticlockwise moment ( w*d) makes the object to topple.

EXERCISE

1 (a) Complete the statements below by using a word from the following list.

Area density volume friction mass weight

The amount of matter in an object is known as the ………………….of the body. The force that

opposes the motion of an object is………………………. and …………………. the pull of

gravity on an object. Density is ………………. per unit ……………...… of a substance [5]

(b) Fig.1.1 shows a car on a moving recovery truck.

Fig.1.1

(i) Use words from the following list to complete the sentence below.

Weight forward backward inertia friction

The truck is moving forwards, if the car is not securely tied down on the back of the recovery

truck, when the truck brakes suddenly the car moves ………………………… because of its

………………… [2]

(ii) The mass of an on the moon is 80kg;

(a) What is the mass of an object on the earth …………………………..

(b) What is the weight of an object on the earth ………………….………., [2]

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 (c) The object shown in Fig.1.2 weighs 17 N on the moon. A mass of 1 kg on the moon weighs
1.7 N.

Fig.1.2

(i)What is the mass of the object on the moon?

…………... [2]

2 Fig.2.1 shows a self-righting toy in its vertical position. The lower section is made from a dense
metal and the upper section is made from plastic. Four points, A, B, C and D, have been labelled
on the toy.

Fig.2.1

(a) Which point represents the

(i) Pivot? …………………. [1]

(ii) Centre of mass? .......................... [1]

(b) Draw an arrow that represents the weight of the toy. [1]

(c) Explain why, in this position, the toy will not turn clockwise or anticlockwise.

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 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………...… [1]

3 Fig.3.1 shows a model of a Bunsen burner in the form of a thin piece of card. The model has
small holes drilled through it at K, L and M.

Fig.3.1

(a) Explain briefly how you would determine the position of the centre of mass of the model.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………….………

…….……………………………………………………………………………….…………...……

……………………………….………………………………………………………………….. [3]

(b) Fig.3.2 shows a cross-section through the centre of a triangular prism. G

shows the position of the centre of mass of the prism.

Fig.3.2

The prism is laid on one of its rectangular faces on a horizontal table. On which side, PQ or QR
or RP, should the prism be placed for maximum stability? State your reasons for your answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………..…………………………………………

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………………………………………………………………………………………………...… [2]