Difference between revisions of "Center of mass"

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m (+center of gravity; +barycenter;)
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[[File:com icon.png|framed|left|Icon]]
 
[[File:com icon.png|framed|left|Icon]]
 
[[File:Com and cot.png|thumb|The thrust points away from the CoM]]
 
[[File:Com and cot.png|thumb|The thrust points away from the CoM]]
The '''center of mass''', abbreviated '''CoM''', is the location of an object where all mass is equally distributed around it. It is important to balance a [[craft]] to prevent it from getting out of control. [[Plane]]s should have a center of mass slightly in front of the [[center of lift]]. For all craft the thrustvector should point to, point away from or go through the center of mass.
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The '''center of mass''', abbreviated '''CoM''', or '''center of gravity''', is the location of an object where all mass is equally distributed around it. It is important to balance a [[craft]] to prevent it from getting out of control. [[Plane]]s should have a center of mass slightly in front of the [[center of lift]]. For all craft the thrustvector should point to, point away from or go through the center of mass.
  
 
It is possible to show the center of mass in the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]] and [[Space Plane Hangar]], but not while in flight. Also it is not possible to view the center of masses of the different stages. This is the only information about a center which is only a point and not also a vector.
 
It is possible to show the center of mass in the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]] and [[Space Plane Hangar]], but not while in flight. Also it is not possible to view the center of masses of the different stages. This is the only information about a center which is only a point and not also a vector.
  
Unlike in real life, the center of mass of two celestial bodies, e.g. [[Kerbin]] and [[Mun]], is always in the center of the orbited body, Kerbin in that example.
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Unlike in real life, the center of mass of two celestial bodies called the barycenter, e.g. [[Kerbin]] and [[Mun]], is always in the center of the orbited body, which is in the example Kerbin.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 19:09, 4 October 2013

Icon
The thrust points away from the CoM

The center of mass, abbreviated CoM, or center of gravity, is the location of an object where all mass is equally distributed around it. It is important to balance a craft to prevent it from getting out of control. Planes should have a center of mass slightly in front of the center of lift. For all craft the thrustvector should point to, point away from or go through the center of mass.

It is possible to show the center of mass in the Vehicle Assembly Building and Space Plane Hangar, but not while in flight. Also it is not possible to view the center of masses of the different stages. This is the only information about a center which is only a point and not also a vector.

Unlike in real life, the center of mass of two celestial bodies called the barycenter, e.g. Kerbin and Mun, is always in the center of the orbited body, which is in the example Kerbin.

See also