![]() ![]() Read the resulting height h, which is the height of the center of mass above the ground. In our example, let's say we have weighed the rear wheels and obtained 1440 lb. The raised axle should weigh slightly less than measured in the flat position of a car, and the axle on the ground should be a little heavier. ![]() It doesn't matter whether you measure the weight of the raised wheels or the wheels on the ground. Measure the weight of the front (or rear) axle. ![]() In practice, this is the distance from the wheel center (axle) to the ground. The height of 15 inches should be high enough, and this is a value we have used in our example.Įnter the radius of the car wheels. However, be careful with doing this – protect your car from sliding from the scale! Always chock the wheels and use the parking brake. The higher you lift the wheels, the more accurate result you will get. For example, we have lifted the front axle.Įnter the height at which chosen axle was raised compared to the other axle. To find the height of the center of mass, you need to lift a little bit one of the axles (like in the figure above). In our example, we assume that we have the same car as before.ĭecide which axle you will raise – front or rear. You can, of course, use our car center of mass calculator to do it. It is the most frequent situation because, in almost every car, the hefty engine is placed under the hood in the front.įind the longitudinal position of the center of gravity of your car. It means that the car's center of gravity is slightly moved to the front. In our example, a = 3.2 ft and b = 4.8 ft. Read the resulting distances a and b, which determine the longitudinal position of the center of mass. The measured mass should be approximately two times smaller than the total mass of a car. Remember that both axles should be on the same level! Therefore, you should place another axle on some platform of the same height as the scale. Ride up with the front (or rear) wheels on the scale and measure the weight of the front (or rear) axle. However, our car center of mass calculator is more complicated, so we have divided the step-by-step instruction into three parts:Įnter the weight of your car – for example, 3000 lb.įind the wheelbase of your car – measure the distance between the centers of two wheels of different axles. In the center of mass calculator, we presented an idea of how to determine the center of mass in one, two, and three dimensions for two point masses. To estimate the exact position of the center of gravity in your car, you need to perform a few measurements. Interested in physics applied to cars? Don't hesitate and check out our car crash calculator! We explain there how dangerous car crashes can be and how seatbelts protect you from injury. Determination of the center of gravity consists of a few weight measurements of the car in different geometries.Īdditionally, you need to measure such parameters as the wheelbase L (distance between the front and rear axles), the radius of the wheels r, and the height at which the wheels were raised H in case of altitudinal location, and the car track T in case of side location (distance between the wheels on the same axle). Where these three coordinates intersect in space is the actual center of mass.
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