Toppling giving example of a block on horizontal surface?

AI Thread Summary
Toppling occurs when a block's center of mass is not directly above its contact area with a horizontal surface. If the center of gravity shifts to the side of the contact area, the block will begin to rotate and potentially fall over. Friction is not necessary for toppling to occur, as the block will topple due to gravitational torque acting on it. The discussion clarifies that the center of gravity must be above or to the side of the contact area for toppling to happen, not below it. Understanding these principles is crucial for analyzing stability in physical systems.
Shahid0072
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Please explain me the toppling giving example of a block on horizontal surface? Is friction necessary? What's its deal with center of gravity?
 
Physics news on Phys.org


I'm not completely sure I understood the question completely, but here goes:

If the centre of mass of the block is not above the contact area between the block and the table, it will start to move (fall over completely if there is nothing else that stops it). This happens whether there is friction or not.

Torquil
 


But how can center of mass ever be below contact point..I mean contact point is at lowest point on the surface..When does a block topple?
 


Ah, I meant that either the centre of gravity is "above the contact area", or to the side of it. Not under it :-) If it is to the side of the area of contact, then you can prove that it starts to rotate to the side by considering the torque of gravity upon the object, with respect to some appropriately chosen axis.

TOrquil
 

Thread 'Why can't Solar panels be hemispherical, or a curved strip type?'

comparing a flat solar panel of area 2π r² and a hemisphere of the same area, the hemispherical solar panel would only occupy the area π r² of while the flat panel would occupy an entire 2π r² of land. wouldn't the hemispherical version have the same area of panel exposed to the sun, occupy less land space and can therefore increase the number of panels one land can have fitted? this would increase the power output proportionally as well. when I searched it up I wasn't satisfied with...
View full post »

Thread 'The Physics of unloading sand from a barge'

I think it's easist first to watch a short vidio clip I find these videos very relaxing to watch .. I got to thinking is this being done in the most efficient way? The sand has to be suspended in the water to move it to the outlet ... The faster the water , the more turbulance and the sand stays suspended, so it seems to me the rule of thumb is the hose be aimed towards the outlet at all times .. Many times the workers hit the sand directly which will greatly reduce the water...
View full post »

Similar threads

What are Reaction Forces and how do they relate to Newton's third law of motion?
Replies
9
Views
13K
Friction problem of a block sandwiched between 2 surfaces
Replies
6
Views
1K
Toppling an Object over a Table
Replies
6
Views
2K
Likely very simple Beam calcs...
Replies
4
Views
466
Checking answer to stacking problem
Replies
9
Views
2K
I I never fully understood gyroscopic precession - toppling gyroscopes
Replies
10
Views
399
B Why do objects break? (in the case of a body at rest on a surface)
Replies
2
Views
1K
B Why in two block systems do both blocks tend to have the same velocity?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Newton's law problem: Pushing 2 stacked blocks on a horizontal table
Replies
13
Views
3K
Rack of blocks held horizontally under pressure
2
Replies
52
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top