Center of Mass (CoM) is defined as which?

• A. Center Point of Total Body Weight (Depends on Gravitational Field)
• B. Center Point of Total Mass (Depends on Mass Distribution)
• C. Center of Pressure
• D. Base of Support

Answer: (B)

Center of mass is the point where the body’s total mass can be considered to be concentrated, determined by how mass is distributed throughout the body. It’s found by weighing the distribution of all mass elements, effectively a weighted average of their positions. This makes the correct choice the best because it emphasizes that location depends on mass distribution, not on gravity alone. In a uniform gravity field, center of gravity coincides with center of mass, but the defining idea remains mass-based. The other ideas refer to where gravity acts, the reaction force under the feet, or the area the body can sway within, none of which define the actual balance point of the body's mass. For example, shifting a heavy object to one side moves the CoM toward that object, illustrating how distribution changes its location.