How to Calculate the Center of Gravity in a Prism

You have a big physics test coming up and you need to know how to calculate the center of gravity. However, when your teacher tries to explain it in class, it all goes over your head. Don't freak out. You can understand it at least long enough to pass the test.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Understand what makes a prism. A prism is a solid object that has no curved sides and that has identical cross sections all along its length. In other words, you can identify a prism by slicing it like a loaf of bread. If all the slices (cross sections) are the same, and it has no curved edges, it's a prism. A cube is type of prism.
2. Find the center, or centroid, of the cross section. For instance, if your prism is a cube, find the horizontal and vertical halfway points of one of the "slices." Draw straight lines from each halfway mark toward the middle of the cross section. The center is the point at which the lines meet.
3. Continue unvaryingly in the same plane from the center of the cross section to the length's halfway point. This point is the center of gravity of the prism.

Tips & Warnings

• Irregular prisms may have less obvious centroids. The same formula for the centroid of one polygon works for all polygons, regardless of shape or regularity.