A tower is easier to support when its combined weight acts above its base. Moving a load sideways shifts that weight line. If the line falls outside the support, the tower can tip. A wider base can support a farther sideways shift. A supported object may tip when the line of action of its weight moves beyond a supporting edge. Changing either the base width or the distribution of mass changes this comparison. At the edge the model is at its tipping boundary. The animation exaggerates rotation and does not model real materials, wind or foundations.
Engineering and scientific investigation · Discover & try
When does a supported object tend to tip?
Reading level 3 of 5 · IndependentChange
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Centre of mass
The mass-weighted average position of an object.
Base of support
The region over which contact can support the object.
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Ideal attached rigid parts on a supporting surface under gravity. Wind, sliding, deformation and material failure are omitted.
What to look for
- The combined weight line lands inside the base and the tower stays still.
- The line falls outside; the illustrated tower tips around the base edge.
- The same shifted load is now supported by the wider base.
Explain what you noticed
A different supported model has its weight line outside the left edge. Which change directly addresses that problem?
Keep this idea: For this ideal tipping model, compare the combined mass projection with the base of support.
Follow the sources
- University of Maryland Physics — Center of Mass: Leaning Tower
- Western Washington University — Center of Mass Tower
Source material checked 2026-10-29. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Source links do not imply endorsement.
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