Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Downhill Race
An activity that explores how two cylinders that are identical in shape and mass may travel down a hill differently due to how their mass is distributed. Learn how the distribution of mass in an object can affect its translational...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Tightrope Trials
To learn about the concept of center of mass, students examine how objects balance. They make symmetrical cut-outs of different "creatures" and experiment with how they balance on a tightrope of string. Students see the concept of center...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Perching Parrot
Students explore the concepts of center of mass and static equilibrium by seeing how non-symmetrical objects balance. Using a paper cut-out shape of a parrot sitting on a wire coat hanger, they learn that their parrot exists in stable...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Rocking the Boat
The concepts of stability and equilibrium are introduced while students learn how these ideas are related to the concept of center of mass. They gain further understanding when they see, first-hand, how equilibrium is closely related to...
Paul Dawkins
Paul's Online Notes: Calculus Ii: Applications of Integrals
The resource examines applications of integration. Topics investigated are arc length, surface area, center of mass, hydrostatic pressure, and probability density functions. Class notes, definitions, and examples with detailed solutions...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Forces and Graphing
This activity can be used to explore forces acting on an object, to practice graphing experimental data, and/or to introduce the algebra concepts of slope and intercept of a line. A wooden 2x4 beam is set on top of two scales. Students...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Structures Around the World
How does that bridge stay up? What are the forces acting on that column? This site helps students understand how structures can be built by having them build their own. Also provides images of real structures for kids to compare with...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Find Mass With Torque
Determine the unknown mass that is being balanced by a known mass for a meter stick balanced at its center of mass (50.0 cm mark).
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Find Mass With Torque Hard
Determine the unknown mass that is being balanced by two known masses for a meter stick balanced at its center of mass (50.0 cm mark).
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Kinetic Energy and the Work Energy Theorem
By the end of this section, you will be able to explain work as a transfer of energy and net work as the work done by the net force and to explain and apply the work-energy theorem.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Center of Mass and Two Dimensional Collisions Review
A reference page that reviews two-dimensional collisions with key concepts, equations, and skills to understand center of mass motion.
Cosmo Learning
Cosmo Learning: Engineering Mechanics
A collection of video lectures from a course introducing students to engineering mechanics. Webpage includes forty lectures from a professor at the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning. Lectures vary in length and cover...
Cosmo Learning
Cosmo Learning: Physics 240: Science and Engineering I
A collection of video lectures from a physics for science and engineering course taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The course discusses the concepts of mechanics, wave motion, sound, heat and thermodynamics in thirty-five...
Other
University of Evansville: Centroid
This site from the University of Evansville contains information on the centroid. The information is brief and two picture images are given as well.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Robots Alive! Toddler's First Steps
Investigate the physics involved in balancing.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Placement of the Center of Mass
This lesson explains why the center of mass might not lie within an object.
Learn AP Physics
Learn Ap Physics: Physics B: Conservation of Momentum
A site dedicated to help students prepare for the AP Physics B test. This specific site reviews the conservation of momentum including impulse, elastic and inelastic collisions, linear momentum, and center of mass. Site contains links to...
Interactive Mathematics
Interactive Mathematics: Centroids
These examples demonstrate how to use integration to find the centroid (center of mass) of an object.
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Rotational Motion
A page describing rotational equilibrium and non-equilibrium situations. Includes graphics, equations, and many examples.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: The Center of Mass
This site from the Illinois Institute of Technology provides a lab activity in which young scholars determine the location of the center of mass of an irregularly shaped object. Observations are related to the balancing point of the...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Center of Gravity Lab
This Illinois Institute of Technologysite provides a lab activity in which students find the center of gravity of a box which has nonuniform weight distribution. Complete with directions and discussion questions; answers provided.