Which factor determines the location of the center of mass?

• A. Mass Distribution
• B. Gravitational Field
• C. Surface Texture
• D. Limb Length

Answer: (A)

Mass distribution sets where the center of mass sits because the center of mass is the balance point created by how all the body's mass is arranged. Heavier parts pull the balance toward them, so moving mass around or adding mass in a region shifts the center. The gravitational field affects the forces acting on the body, but in a uniform field that force passes through the center of mass and does not determine its location. Surface texture doesn’t change where mass is located, and limb length only influences the center of mass insofar as it changes how mass is distributed.