Conversations on Natural Philosophy, in which the Elements of that Science are Familiarly Explained

by Mrs. Marcet; Thomas P. Jones

Caroline. I understand that perfectly; but what is the meaning of the other point B?

Mrs. B. Let us, in imagination take off the upper part of the load; the centre of gravity will then change its situation, and descend to B, as that will now be the point about which the parts of the less heavily laden wagon will balance each other. Will the wagon now be upset?

Caroline. No, because a perpendicular line from that point falls within the wheels at D, and is supported by them; and when the centre of gravity is supported, the body will not fall.

Emily. Yet I should not much like to pass a wagon in that situation, for, as you see, the point D is but just within the left wheel; if the right wheel was raised, by merely passing over a stone, the point D would be thrown on the outside of the left wheel, and the wagon would upset.

Caroline. A wagon, or any carriage whatever, will then be most firmly supported, when the centre of gravity falls exactly between the wheels; and that is the case in a level road.

Mrs. B. The centre of gravity of the human body, is a point somewhere in a line extending perpendicularly through the middle of it, and as long as we stand upright, this point is supported by the feet; if you lean on one side, you will find that you no longer stand firm. A rope-dancer performs all his feats of agility, by dexterously supporting his centre of gravity; whenever he finds that he is in danger of losing his balance, he shifts the heavy pole which he holds in his hands, in order to throw the weight towards the side that is deficient; and thus by changing the situation of the centre of gravity, he restores his equilibrium.

Caroline. When a stick is poised on the tip of the finger, is it not by supporting its centre of gravity?

Mrs. B. Yes; and it is because the centre of gravity is not supported, that spherical bodies roll down a slope. A sphere being perfectly round, can touch the slope but by a single point, and that point cannot be perpendicularly under the centre of gravity, and therefore cannot be supported, as you will perceive by examining this figure. ([fig. 5. plate 3.)]

Emily. So it appears: yet I have seen a cylinder of wood roll up a slope; how is that contrived?

Mrs. B. It is done by plugging or loading one side of the cylinder with lead, as at B, ([fig. 5. plate 3.]) the body being no longer of a uniform density, the centre of gravity is removed from the middle of the body to some point in or near the lead, as that substance is much heavier than wood; now you may observe that should this cylinder roll down the plane, as it is here situated, the centre of gravity must rise, which is impossible; the centre of gravity must always descend in moving, and will descend by the nearest and readiest means, which will be by forcing the cylinder up the slope, until the centre of gravity is supported, and then it stops.