CAIE IGCSE Physics Centre of Gravity and Stability
Practise comparing stability using centre-of-gravity height and base width and explaining toppling when the weight's line of action passes outside the base.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Physics 0625
Exam points
- select a lower centre of gravity and wider base as changes that increase stability
- explain toppling when the vertical weight line falls outside the supporting base
- apply mass placement to buses, ships or structures by tracing how it shifts the centre of gravity
1.5.3.3—Qualitatively the effect of the question 1
A radio transmitter is a very tall, thin cylinder. It is prevented from falling over by wires which have one end fixed to the transmitter and the other end fixed in the ground. The ends of the wires in the ground are a long distance from the transmitter.
Fig. 4.1 shows the transmitter and two of the wires.
Fig. 4.1
The centre of gravity G is shown on Fig. 4.1.
Explain why the radio transmitter without the wires is a very unstable structure.
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