High jumper center of mass
I have heard high jumpers can position their body so that their center if mass is below the bar while vaulting it. How is this possible if no part of their body is below the bar?
Answer
The center of mass is computed by summing the mass of a system times its position. In other words, it's a quantity that depends on the distribution of mass. As such, the actual center of mass doesn't have to correspond to a point where mass actually exists! Consider a boomerang-shaped object that is heavier on the ends than near the center. The distribution of mass will be skewed towards the open region of space on the inside of the curve. In essence, this approach is what a jumper can do to avoid coming in contact with the bar while not having to get their center of mass above the bar!
Customer support service by UserEcho
The center of mass is computed by summing the mass of a system times its position. In other words, it's a quantity that depends on the distribution of mass. As such, the actual center of mass doesn't have to correspond to a point where mass actually exists! Consider a boomerang-shaped object that is heavier on the ends than near the center. The distribution of mass will be skewed towards the open region of space on the inside of the curve. In essence, this approach is what a jumper can do to avoid coming in contact with the bar while not having to get their center of mass above the bar!