🏛️ STABILITY & TOPPLING
PAGE 1 OF 5, THE BALANCE RULE
CENTER OF MASS
WHERE THE WEIGHT ACTS
Every object has a center of mass, the average position of all its mass. Gravity pulls as if all the weight acts at that single point. For an object resting on a surface, draw a vertical line straight down from the center of mass. If that line lands inside the base of support, the object stays upright. If the line falls outside the base, gravity produces a tipping torque and the object topples. That simple geometric rule explains why a wide stool is hard to tip and why a tall, skinny vase tips so easily.
⚖️ EQUILIBRIUM
Stable equilibrium means a small tilt still leaves the center of mass over the base, so the object settles back. Unstable means a small tilt sends the center of mass past the edge.
BALANCE!
SAFE ZONE
📐 Vertical line from COM hits the base
✅ Object stays upright
🧱 Support forces balance the weight
✅ Object stays upright
🧱 Support forces balance the weight
DANGER ZONE
⚠️ COM line falls outside the base
💥 Gravity torque tips the object
📉 It rotates over the contact edge
💥 Gravity torque tips the object
📉 It rotates over the contact edge