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Center of Mass
An explanation through sports theory
And you don’t have to play sports to get it
...
The ​center of mass​
...

● Take away all that fancy talk and​ the definition means this:​ ​The center of
mass​, or center of gravity, ​represents the unique point in an object or system
which describes the system’s response to external forces and torques
...
It’s up to the objects’ distances and
masses to stay upright and balanced
...
The center of mass is at the point
where the seesaw is balanced (Center of Gravity; CG
...

● However, ​by increasing the distance of the lesser mass and decreasing the
distance of the lower mass, the center of gravity can still be balanced​
...
 This allows the object to stay balanced
...
 The 
finger is the center of mass in this situation and is able to balance the broom 
because of this
...
​When the
masses are unequal, the distances are off, and the object in question will not
remain balanced
...
 Despite the equal masses of mass 1 and mass 2, the 
seesaw is unbalanced due to the different lengths
...

But how does that apply to sports?

 

Excellent Question!  
 
● We’ll explain by using four sports as examples: dancing, surfing, football,
and ice skating
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​ ​This particular form of dancing is
centered all around balance
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Here is an example of a dancer with the perfect center of mass
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She’s stretched them out to counteract the length and mass of her leg
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● Next is ​surfing​
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(​Fun fact: When a
Surfer gulps a seawater without any intention it is called A Neptune
Cocktail
...
​)
● It is very important that surfers keep their masses balanced and distances at
the appropriate lengths to avoid disaster
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 Notice  
how her arms are lengthened to counteract her backside
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 Her center of  
mass, shown in red, is completely off center
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 Neptune Cocktail time
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When a football player ​jukes​, or fakes someone out
(pretends to move one way before quickly dodging another), they need to
have a lot of balance or they’ll fall
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● This makes it easier to quickly and forcefully change their arms’ distances
around and still keep the center of mass relatively equal
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 His center of mass is spread  
through his stance so he can change directions quickly (gif)
...


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● Finally,​ ice skating​
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Skaters must stretch their bodies in order to center
themselves and to keep balanced
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Here is an example an ice skater successfully balanced
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 Her center of mass is  
well-balanced here due to her distance increasing while she manipulates her mass
...
 He has way too much weight  
on his right side and seemingly attempted to throw out his left  
arm and leg (which would increase the distance of his left side)  
to counteract it
...
 

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● To conclude, the center of mass needs to be properly balanced in order for
there to be success in sports
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● By correctly manipulating their center of mass, athletes can better
themselves and improve on the field
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Think of it: the next time you faceplant, you’ll know why!
As Neil deGrasse Tyson says,  

“Your center of mass is a place you
cannot visit but you always carry with
you
...
”

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Works Cited

● http://hyperphysics
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gsu
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html
● http://www
...
com/pointe-shoe-fitting/about-pointe-shoes
● http://www
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org/community-engagement/point-pointe-shoes
● https://en
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org/wiki/Center_of_mass



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