QSU3063 BIOMECHANICS

LAB #3: LOCATING THE CENTER OF MASS (CENTER OFGRAVITY) OF THE HUMAN BODY

Part 1

Reading Assignment: McGinnis (2005), pp. 129-143; Hay & Reid (1988). Anatomy, Mechanics,
and Human Motion, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, pp. 186-200. Hay and Reid present the
reaction board method in detail and provide the terminology and equations used in this lab.

Introduction and Theory: The center of mass (CM) is the point on a body that moves in the
same way that a particle subject to the same external forces would move. For example, When a
point mass (approximated by a steel ball or shot) is thrown or put, it moves in a parabolic path
under the influence of gravity. The CM of a long jumper follows a similar parabolic path while
airborne, and it is the only point on the body to do this (see Figure 1). The CM can be considered
to be the average (mean) location of all the particles of body
mass.

Because the CM of a body is dependent on the distribution of its mass, the CM location for a rigid
body (i.e.one that does not experience any change in shape) will be fixed. In contrast, the CM of
a body who’s mass distribution can change (e.g., the human body) will not have a fixed location.
In addition, it is important to keep in mind that the CM location may sometimes fall outside of the
body. A doughnut, for example, has its CM in the “hole” in its middle.

Figure 1. The CM of a long jumper follows a parabolic path while airborne.

If the body is placed in a gravitational field, this point is also called the center of gravity (CG).
Thus, while the body always has a CM regardless of the presence of gravity, it does not always
have a CG (e.g., while floating in outer space in the absence of gravity).

For human motion analysis, two primary methods have been used to assess CM location: a) a
reaction board technique which is easily applied to static positions, and b) a segmentation
method, the more versatile of the two since it can be applied to dynamic situations, which
involves an estimation of individual segment masses and positions.

Purpose: To compute the CM location along the longitudinal axis of the body in a supine position
using the reaction board technique and segmentation method.

Reaction Board Method: The direct method of calculating the CM involves a device known as a
reaction board. It consists of a long rigid board supported at each end on “knife edges” (see
Figure 2) Under one end is a scale, the other end is simply elevated such that the board is level.
The initial scale reading (R1) as well as the length of the board between the knife-edges (d) are
noted before a person lies on it (see Figure 3). The scale reading increases to a new value (R2).
The placement of the added weight (x) relative to the foot end (A) determines how much of the
person’s weight (W) is reflected as an increase in the scale reading. If the CM of the person falls
exactly half way between the knife edges, then the increase in the scale reading (R2 – R1) will be
exactly half of the person’s weight. (Note that the person’s height is not necessarily the same as
the distance d as shown in Figure 2.) Thus, by measuring the increase in scale reading and
knowing the person’s weight, one can calculate the distance (x) from the feet to the person’s
CM. The equation that is used is

(1)

To compare between people, this distance x should be expressed as a percentage of a person’s

standing height (h). For the average male, this percentage is about 57%. For the average female,
this percentage is about 55% (see Figure 3). Note: The complete derivation of Equation 1 can be
found in Hay & Reid (1988, pp. 193-196). The student should be prepared to derive this equation
using the Free Body Diagrams shown in Figure 2 and the principles of static equilibrium.

Procedures: Each student should obtain an accurate measure of height and weight. Omphalion
(navel or belly button) height will also be measured. The weight should be measured with the
same scale as used for the reaction board (why?). The initial scale reading (R1) and distance
between the knife-edges of the board (d) will be recorded. The student will then carefully lie down
on the board with arms at one’s sides. Be sure to line up the soles of the feet with the inferior
knife-edge of the board. A new scale reading (R2) will be recorded.

The student then raises his or her right arm above the head (without shoulder tilt) and a new
scale reading will be recorded. Next, a shoulder tilt will be added and a new scale reading
recorded. Finally both arms are raised above the head and a new scale reading will be recorded.
These extra scale readings will be used to calculate where the CM is located when one raises
each arm, in turn, above the head. In general, the CM moves up within the body 3-5 centimeters
per arm. Be careful to keep the soles of the feet lined up with the end of the board for each
position.

Results. Complete steps 1-5 below including answering the questions in steps 3-5. Write your
answers on your lab book following the answer sheet format attached to this handout. Show
example calculations. Also answer the discussion questions on page 4.

1. Draw the approximate dimension of the reaction board

2. Using Equation 1, calculate the distance (x) from the feet to the CM for each body position
(arms down, one arm up without shoulder tilt, one arm up with shoulder tilt, and two arms up).
Express these distances both in absolute units (centimeters) and as percentages of the
student’s height. Write your answers on your lab book..
3. Calculate your CM location relative to your omphalion (navel) for each condition, e.g., the CM
falls 2 centimeters below or 1 centimeter above the navel, etc. Add these values to your
answer.
4. Compared to the arms down condition, how many centimeters (not %) did your CM move up
when one arm was raised above the head (with and without shoulder tilt)?
5. Compared to the arms down condition, how many centimeters (not %) did your CM move up
when both arms were raised above the head?
6. For the arms down condition, compare your results to the average (55% for women, 57% for
men) for the general population. Why might you be different than the average person (if you
are indeed different, realizing that a simple error might have been made either in the data
collected or in your calculations)?
 (a)
(b)

Figure 2. Free Body Diagrams of the Reaction Board without a person lying on it (a) and with a
person lying on it (c). Note, it is not necessary that the length of the reaction board be the same
as the person’s height.

Figure 3. Relative heights of the CM of the typical female (left) and male (right) as percentages of
standing height.
Discussion Questions. (Type up your answers to these discussion questions and send it online
through MyGuru Portal.)

1. What might account for sex differences in the CM location?

2. Why does the CM shift upward when the arms are raised above the head? (Explain in
mechanical terms. Hint: it has something to do with moments.)
3. Do you expect any shift in CM location when a shoulder tilt is added to the one-arm-up
condition? Why or why not?
4. Do you think the position of the CM to be higher, lower, or at the same level within the body
when the body is standing up as when the body is lying down? Why or why not? (Hint: What
does gravity do to the position of the internal organs and fluids within your body?)
5. Assuming that the gymnast in Figure 4 is maintaining a static position (and not falling), where
would you expect the position of her CM to lie relative to her base of support? What would
happen if her “line of gravity” moved outside of her base of support (as shown in dotted lines)?
Explain.
6. In order to reach the highest in a vertical jump, what position of the arms should an athlete
adopt at takeoff and the peak of the jump? Why? (Hint, see Figure 5 below.)

Figure 4. Unstable equilibrium. Figure 5. Possible body position used in

vertical jump and reach.

Note: Figures 1, 4, and 5 come from Hay, J.G. (1993). The Biomechanics of Sports Techniques,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. Figures 2 and 3 come from Hay, J.G. & Reid, J.G. (1988).
Anatomy, Mechanics, and Human Motion, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Lab Report due before the next Lab session. The discussion question answers need to be
type and send in online individually on MyGuru assignment portal.
Name_____________________________________

Answer Sheet

Raw Data:

Reaction Board Length (d) _____________

Your standing height (h) _____________

Your omphalion (navel) height (xo) ___________ Your body weight (W) _____________

Initial Scale Reading (R1) _____________

Final Scale Readings (R2):

a. Both arms down _____________ b. One arm up w/o shoulder tilt _____________

c. One arm up with shoulder tilt _____________ d. Both arms up _____________

Calculated Data:

Calculate your body CM location relative to the bottoms of your feet (x), your navel (x–xo), or
your both-arms-down CM location (x-xa):

x (cm) x (% of h) x–xo (cm) x-xa (cm)

a. Both arms down xa _______ _______ ________ . 0.0 .

b. One arm up w/o shoulder tilt ________ _______ ________ ______

c. One arm up with shoulder tilt ________ _______ ________ ______

d. Both arms up ________ _______ ________ ______

 Part 2

The segmentation method is based on a simple principle that states that the sum of the moments of the
individual body segments defined relative to an arbitrary axis must equal the moment of the sum (i.e., the
moment of the total body mass) relative to the same axis:

(1)

(2)

where mi represents the mass of the segment i, xi and yi represent the Cartesian (XY) coordinates of the
CG of segment i, MB equals the total body mass, and XB and YB represent the Cartesian (XY) coordinates
of the total body CG. Since XB and YB represent the final X, Y coordinates for the whole body center of
mass, equations 7 and 8 should be solved for these variables explicitly.

Procedures: Compute the whole body location for an eight-segment representation of the person in
figure 5, following the general procedures provided below. Use only the right side of the figure for your
measurements.

1. Make two or three photocopies of Figure 5 and save the original in case you make a mistake.

2. Make an educated guess as to the location of the whole body CG. Mark this location with a distinctive
pen color on one of your photocopies (call this your “working photocopy”). You will compare this
estimate of the CG with the calculated location.

3. Carefully mark on your working photocopy the position of the segment endpoints (see "skeleton
figure"). Also refer to Figures 6 and 7 for more information on segment endpoints. If you make errors in
marking segment endpoints, begin the marking process over on another photocopy.

4. Construct a stick figure representation of the figure by drawing straight lines between appropriate
segment endpoints.

5. Measure the length of each segment (in mm) and record the values in Table 1(Lab book). Using these
lengths, and the data expressing the locations of the body segment CG’s as a percentage of segment
length from the noted reference point (provided in Table 1/(Lab book).), compute the distance of the CG
of each body segment from the same landmark. Using these computed distances, mark the segment CG
locations on your working photocopy.

6. Draw on your working photocopy arbitrary horizontal and vertical axes, one to the left of the stick
figure and one below the stick figure.

7. For each segment, measure the horizontal and vertical perpendicular distances from the CG to each
axis in millimeters (i.e., the x and y coordinates of each segment CG), and record these values in Table 2.
Note: the x coordinate is the perpendicular distance from the y-axis (i.e., vertical axis), the y coordinate is
the perpendicular distance from the x-axis (i.e., horizontal axis).

8. To find the segment moments about each axis, multiply the relative weight of each segment by its
distance from the axis. Do this for both the horizontal and vertical axes and record the results in Lab
book.

9. For each axis, sum the segment moments and record the result in Table 2 (Lab book).
10. Compute the location of the total body CG relative to the horizontal and vertical axes by dividing the
sum of segment moments about each axis by the total relative body weight (i.e., 100, which represents
100% of body weight). Record these values in Table 2 (lab book) and then mark this location (XB,YB) on
your working photocopy.

11. Double check your segment markings and computations, especially if the computed location of the
total body CF does not agree with your estimated guess from step 2. Common errors include measuring
segment CG locations from the wrong end of the segment (for nearly all segments, the segment CG lies
closer to the proximal endpoint).

12. Check your whole body CG locations with the lab instructor’s. These will be posted outside the
biomechanics lab the day after your laboratory activity.

Discussion Questions: (Note: These are not to be handed in. Use these to help you study for upcoming
quizzes and examinations.)

1. Considering the position of the body segments, is your estimate of the computed location of the total
body CG reasonable? Explain.

2. The segment mass and CG values provided in Table 1 are based on male cadavers (old ones, at that).
How do you think a (living) male athlete’s values would compare? How do you think a (living) female
athlete’s values would compare? Explain.

Assignment: Segmentation method calculation using a photograph of your choice. Please refer to the
additional two page handout for specific details.
Table 1. Segmental length and segment CG location as a percentage of length measured from
the proximal endpoint

Segment Length (mm) CG Location CG location (mm)

(% length)

Head 59.8% from vertex

Trunk 44.9% from supersternale

Upper arm 57.7% from shoulder

Forearm 45.7% from elbow

Hand 79.0% from wrist

Thigh 41.0% from hip

Shank 44.6% from knee

Foot 44.2% from heel

Table 2. Data summary for segmental computation of whole body centre of mass. Note the
relative masses for each limb have been doubled to account for each side of body.

Segment Relative Mass Horizontal CG Horizontal Vertical Vertical

(mi %) distance moment CG moment
(i)
distance
(xi; mm) (mi :xi) (mi :yi)
(yi; mm)

Head 6.94

Trunk 43.46

Upper arm 5.42

Forearm 3.24

Hand 1.22

Thigh 28.32

Shank 8.66

Foot 2.74

MB = 100.0% ∑ mi :xi = _________ ∑ mi :xi = _________

Center of mass location: XB = _________________, YB