Centre of gravity

A high centre of gravity makes the van less stable. When turning, the van may tilt. A higher centre of gravity means the weight force acts further from the pivot point (the wheels on the inside of the turn), increasing the turning moment. If this moment is large enough, the van could topple over.

1. Hang the lamina from a point near the edge, allowing it to swing freely.
2. Hang a plumb line from the same point.
3. Trace the line of the plumb line onto the lamina.
4. Repeat steps 1-3, hanging the lamina from a *different* point.
5. The centre of gravity is the point where the two lines intersect. The lamina will balance if supported at this point.

Accurately determining the centre of gravity ensures the vehicle is stable, preventing it from easily tipping over, especially during turns or on uneven surfaces.

*Reason: Stability*

A lower centre of gravity increases stability. In a double-decker bus, if the centre of gravity is too high, the bus is more likely to topple over during a turn because the line of action of the weight force will fall outside the base of support. Lowering the centre of gravity makes the bus more stable because a greater tilt is required for the line of action of the weight to fall outside the base.

Placing the weight lower down will lower the overall centre of gravity. This increases the stability of the vehicle, making it less likely to topple over. Because the centre of gravity will be lower to the ground than 4.0cm.