How can you find an object's centre of gravity practically?

You can find an object's centre of gravity practically by suspending it and drawing vertical lines from the suspension points.

To find the centre of gravity of an irregularly shaped object, you can use a simple, practical method involving suspension and plumb lines. First, you need to suspend the object from a point on its edge. Once it's hanging freely, it will naturally orient itself so that its centre of gravity is directly below the suspension point.

Next, you need to hang a plumb line from the same point. A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string, and it will hang directly downwards due to gravity. You then draw a line on the object along the plumb line. This line is a vertical line that passes through the centre of gravity.

After that, you need to suspend the object from a different point and repeat the process. The object will reorient itself, and you hang a new plumb line and draw a new line on the object.

The point where the lines intersect is the centre of gravity of the object. This is because the centre of gravity is the only point where the object can be suspended and be in equilibrium, regardless of orientation.

This method works for two-dimensional objects. For three-dimensional objects, you would need to repeat the process from a third point, and the centre of gravity would be where the three lines intersect.

Remember, the centre of gravity is the point where the total weight of the body may be considered to act. Therefore, understanding how to find this point is crucial in many areas of physics, including mechanics and structural engineering.