What properties makes an object stable?
An object will be stable if the centre of mass, the point at which all of the mass of the object is concentrated, is lower to the ground. It will also be stable if there is a wide base. Objects with low centre of masses and wide bases tend to not topple. Examples of this include a car or a book lay on its cover.
Tall objects with higher centre of masses and narrow bases are more likely to topple because the line of action of weight will act outside the base and the resulting moment will cause it to rotate and topple. An upright pencil is an example of this.
EA
Related Physics GCSE answers
All answers ▸If fusing hydrogen nuclei together puts them into a lower energy state, and matter always wants to be in a lower energy state, then why hasn't all the hydrogen in the universe already done this?
Explain how a convection current forms when a pan of water is being heated over a stove
Astronauts on the ISS orbit Earth 16 times a day at a height of 400km above the surface. Given that the radius of Earth is approximately 6400km, how fast are the astronauts travelling?
An apple is suspended a string and a spring in parallel. When the string is cut, the apple falls, and the spring stretches and contracts repeatedly as the apple bounces. Describe the energy conversions that occur during this process.