Matt Quirk

 Point at the center of an object’s weight distribution, where the force of gravity can be considered to act  Stability depends on the location of the center of gravity

 Baseball bat  A baseball follows a smooth parabolic path  Baseball bat does not, wobbles  Point however stays on parbolic path even though rest of bat does not  Motion of bat is sum of two motions:  a spin around the point  Movement through the air where all the weight is concentrated at one point.  This is the center of gravity.

 Center of gravity of an object is the point located at the object’s average position of weight  On a baseball bat, more weight at one end than the other – heavier end  Objects made out of different materials have a different center of gravity  Ex. Baton – heavier on one side

 Why is the Center of Gravity of a baseball bat not at its midpoint?

 A baseball bat is heavier at one end than the other so therefore, the center of gravity will be closer to one end of the baseball bat.