Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

AP Physics C: Mechanics : Understanding and Finding Center of Mass

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics C: Mechanics

Create An Account

All AP Physics C: Mechanics Resources

2 Diagnostic Tests 92 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Circular And Rotational Motion

Doing which of the following would allow you to find the center of mass of an object?

Possible Answers:

Recording its shape

Spinning it

Hanging it from a fixed point

Sliding it along a flat surface

Correct answer:

Spinning it

Explanation:

Center of mass can be found by spinning an object. It will naturally spin around its center of mass, due to the concept of even distribution of mass in relation to the center of mass. Shape and mass are important factors in this property, but the most improtant factor is the mass distribution.

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : Understanding And Finding Center Of Mass

If the fulcrum of a balanced scale is shifted to the left, what type of adjustment must be made to rebalance the scale?

Possible Answers:

Apply more mass to the right end

Apply the same amount of mass to both ends

Apply more mass to the new position of the fulcrum

If the scale was initially balanced, moving the fulcrum will not change this

Apply more mass to the left end

Correct answer:

Apply more mass to the left end

Explanation:

Changing the position of the fulcrum by moving it to the left means the center of mass will be to the right of the new position. Therefore, the scale will tip right. Adding more mass to the left end will rebalance the scale. None of the other options make sense. Adding more mass to the new fulcrum position will not change the balance of the scale because that mass is a negligible distance from the new fulcrum position and does nothing to change the masses on either side.

Report an Error

Example Question #4 : Circular And Rotational Motion

If two masses, $m_{1}=50kg$ and $m_{2}=200kg$ are placed on a seesaw of length , where must the fulcrum be placed such that the seesaw remains level?

Possible Answers:

$\frac{5}{7}L$

$\frac{2}{3}L$

$\frac{L}{5}$

$\frac{L}{4}$

$\frac{4}{5}L$

Correct answer:

$\frac{4}{5}L$

Explanation:

This question asks us to find the center of mass for this system. We know that the center of mass resides a distance $x_{1}$ from the first mass such that:

$m_{1}x_{1}=m_{2}(L-x_{1})$

In this case:

$m_{1}x_{1}+m_{2}x_{1}=m_{2}L$

$x_{1}(m_{1}+m_{2})=m_{2}L$

Plug in known values and solve.

$x_{1}=\frac{m_{2}L}{m_{1}+m_{2}}=\frac{200}{250}L=\frac{4}{5}L$

Report an Error

Example Question #1 : Rotational Motion And Torque

Three $40\: g$ point masses are at the points $(7.07 \:cm, 0\: cm)$ , $(-7.07 \:cm, 0 \:cm)$ and

$(0 \:cm, -7.07 \:cm)$ and a $90 \:g$ point mass is at the point $(0 \:cm, 7.07 \:cm)$ .

How far from the origin is the center of mass of the system?

Possible Answers:

$1.68\:cm$

$0.909\:cm$

$1.12\:cm$

$1.41\:cm$

$0.786\:cm$

Correct answer:

$1.68\:cm$

Explanation:

To find the center of mass, we have to take the weighted average of the x coordinates and the y coordinates.

$40\:g$ Measures: $90\:g$ Measures

$(7.07 \:cm, 0\: cm)$ $(0 \:cm, 7.07 \:cm)$

$(-7.07 \:cm, 0 \:cm)$

$(0 \:cm, -7.07 \:cm)$

First, we take the weighted measurement of the x-axis:

$x_c_m = \frac{(7.07\cdot40\:g)+(-7.07 \cdot 40\:g) + (0\cdot 40\:g)+(0\cdot90\:g)}{(3\cdot40)+90}$

We can see that the result of the x-axis contribution is equal to .

Now, let's look at the y-axis contribution:

$y_c_m = \frac{(0\cdot40\:g)+(0 \cdot 40\:g) + (-7.07\cdot 40\:g)+(7.07\cdot90\:g)}{(3\cdot40)+90}$

This equals to $1.68\:cm$

Now that we have the x and y components, we take the root of squares to get the final answer:

$\uptext{center}= \sqrt{x^2+y^2}$

This will give us $1.68\:cm$

Report an Error

View Tutors

Grace
Certified Tutor

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Bachelor of Education, Portuguese. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Masters in B...

View Tutors

James
Certified Tutor

St. Mary of the Plains College, Bachelors, Mathematics. Baker University, Masters, Business Administration and Management.

View Tutors

Constance
Certified Tutor

Loyola University-Chicago, Bachelors, Psychology. Sam Houston State University, Masters, Counseling Psychology.

All AP Physics C: Mechanics Resources

2 Diagnostic Tests 92 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Computer Science Tutors in Denver, Algebra Tutors in Chicago, MCAT Tutors in New York City, Algebra Tutors in Atlanta, LSAT Tutors in Chicago, Physics Tutors in Atlanta, Computer Science Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Tutors in Atlanta, ACT Tutors in Philadelphia, Spanish Tutors in San Francisco-Bay Area

Popular Courses & Classes

SAT Courses & Classes in Miami, GRE Courses & Classes in Philadelphia, SAT Courses & Classes in New York City, GRE Courses & Classes in Phoenix, GRE Courses & Classes in Miami, GMAT Courses & Classes in Denver, ACT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, SAT Courses & Classes in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Courses & Classes in Atlanta, GMAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC

Popular Test Prep

ISEE Test Prep in San Francisco-Bay Area, ACT Test Prep in Philadelphia, LSAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, ISEE Test Prep in Philadelphia, LSAT Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, ISEE Test Prep in Atlanta, GRE Test Prep in Atlanta, ACT Test Prep in Atlanta, GMAT Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, GRE Test Prep in Philadelphia

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

AP Physics C: Mechanics : Understanding and Finding Center of Mass

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Physics C: Mechanics

All AP Physics C: Mechanics Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Circular And Rotational Motion

Example Question #1 : Understanding And Finding Center Of Mass

Example Question #4 : Circular And Rotational Motion

Example Question #1 : Rotational Motion And Torque

All AP Physics C: Mechanics Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: