GCSE Physics 3

• Wide 
• low 
• narrow 
• high

• A is stable as the line of action goes through the base
• B is balanced because the line of action goes through the pivot 
• C is toppled because the line of action is outside the base and pivot

There will be a turning effect and the object will topple

A object is made more stable by lowering its centre of gravity and increasing the area of its base . A high chair has to be high so will have a higher centre of gravity than a normal chair so it has a wider base to compensate for this

bumps in the road an easily cause cars to become unstable , the fact that this car has a lower centre of gravity and large base increases its stability

This makes the lamp more stable as the centre of gravity has been lowered and there is a large base

The height of its centre of mass above some datum level - usually ground

Their centre of mass is at its lowest possible point , which means that as much potential energy as possible is transferred to other forms of energy

• Cone A is clearly unstable as it is standing on its point . Note that any movement of the cone will make the position of the centre of mass lower 
• cone a is in unstable equilibrium 

cone B is stable . Any movement of of the cone will raise its centre of mass and so increase its gravitational potential energy . This means that work muse be done to change its position . Cone B is said to be in neutral equilibrium 

Cone C can move , but will not topple over . Movements do not change its potential energy , it is said to be in neutral equilibrium

Stable the object is