Practice question · Multiple choice
Why does lowering the centre of mass make a sculpture more stable, given the same base?
Hints
- Think about what happens to the centre of mass as the object tips.
- The steeper the rise, the harder it is to reach the point of no return.
Show the answer
A. Tipping raises the centre of mass more steeply, so more work is needed to reach the tipping point
Why
Because tipping raises the centre of mass, and a low centre rises more steeply for the same angle of tilt. More energy is needed to reach the point where the vertical leaves the base, which is what stability means physically. Total weight and base contact area remain unchanged, and the vertical line can still cross the perimeter if tilted sufficiently.
Practise Structure, Armature and the Centre of Mass
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