Lecture 14: Center of Mass and Torque

These flashcards cover key concepts of center of mass, torque, and static equilibrium focused on in Lecture 14.

Extended Object

A collection of point particles that define total mass and center of mass, where gravity’s collective effect acts.

Center of Mass (CM)

The point where an object's mass is concentrated, calculated as a mass-weighted average of its position.

Force of Gravity

The force acting on an object, calculated as Fg = mg, where m is mass and g is acceleration due to gravity.

Torque

A vector quantity that represents the rotational force on an object, defined as τ = l⊥F, positive for counterclockwise rotation and negative for clockwise rotation.

Line of Action

The line along which a force acts, crucial in determining the torque produced by that force.

Static Equilibrium

A condition where an object remains at rest due to no net force and no net torque acting on it.

Tension in Cable

The force exerted by a cable connected to an object, calculated by applying the no net torque condition.

No Net Torque Condition

The situation in which the sum of torques acting on an object equals zero, indicating that the object will not rotate.