English

Diagram of an educational toy that balances on a point: the centre of mass (C) settles below its support (P). Any object whose centre of mass is below the fulcrum will not topple.

Alternative forms

• center of mass (American spelling)

Noun

centre of mass ‎(plural centres of mass) (British, Canadian)

1. (mathematics, physics) A point, near, or within a body at which the object's mass can be assumed to be concentrated; it coincides with the centroid for a body of uniform density, and with the centre of gravity in a uniform gravitational field.

Synonyms

• centre of gravity (in a uniform gravitational field)
• centre of inertia (rare)

Related terms

• centre of buoyancy

Translations

Anagrams

• center of mass