Demonstrates the effects of center of mass on an unstable object. If the center of mass (shown) rises above the wire, the bicycle will become unstable and fall off.
To try this
simulation:
Left-drag horizontally to move the bicycle along the wire. Left-drag vertically to move the hanging weight up and down. Center click or left and right click to reset the scene. Press the "Click Here to Tip the Bike" button to rock the bike back and forth.
What's Going On?
This bicycle is perfectly safe! A heavy weight hangs below the bike. This lowers the center of mass of you, the bicycle and the weight to a point well below the rail. The center of mass is the place where you could lift an object and have it stay in perfect balance and not tip over. Gravity pulls equally on all points of the object around the balance point.
There's More!
Center of mass is very important! Take a boat for instance. If the center of mass on a boat is very high, the boat would tip over and capsize! That's why boats always have the center of mass very low in the water. A tall-masted sailing ship counters the height of the mast with a keel on the bottom of the ship.
