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Posted by Raul at 1/12/2001 10:18 AM EST


Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.


In Reply to: Center of Gravity = 24"
Posted by Andy Baker on 1/12/2001 9:58 AM EST:



There is another way to find the CG;
Put the top end on a scale while the base sits on the floor - take a weight reading. Then put the base side on the scale and the top on the floor - take a reading.
If 'x' is the distance of the CG from the base,
'L' is the diatance from base to top,
'T' is weight (force) at top,
'B' is weight at base, then:

T(L-x) = Bx

So just solve for 'x' and you have it.

It will be even more accurate if you have two scales and can weight both end simultaneously and can keep the goal horizontally level (prope the scale up). This technique works for most long objetcs. Hope that helps.

Raul


: I didn't really have a good way to do this, but here's what I did:

: I placed the goal on it's side, on top of two stacked 4x4 boards. I got the goal to balance on the boards. Then, I measured the distance from the bottom edge of the casters (where the floor would be) and the center of the balance point.

: And that distance was 24".

: Your mileage may vary.

: Andy B.