Text: [mechanical] The center of gravity of a body is that point about which it will be balanced though placed in any position, hence it is the center of parallel pressures. It may be determined experimentally by suspending the body in different successive positions and hanging a plumb line against the face. The common point of the numerous intersections of the plumb line will correspond with the center of gravity. In regular figures or solids the center of gravity corresponds with their geometrical center. The common center of gravity of two bodies is in a point which divides the distance between their individual centers of gravity in the inverse ratio of their weights. The common center of gravity of more than two bodies combined in one system is found by first obtaining the common center of any two of them, and then obtaining the common center of those two with the third, and so on till all are included.

See Also: GRAVITY; CHORD of MASS; FUNDAMENTAL; LEVITATION; NEUTRAL CENTER

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