center of mass
noun phrase
: the point in a body or system of bodies at which the whole mass may be considered as concentrated
Examples of center of mass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So long as the center of mass falls inside a loading zone, the tetrahedron will balance on only one face.
—
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 25 June 2025
Check out the relationship between Soto’s bat speed and his point of contact, which in the table below is measured from the front of Soto’s center of mass.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 16 May 2025
This shift affected their leg positioning and pushed their center of mass forward.
—Joseph M. Mahoney, The Conversation, 6 May 2025
However, most walking models used for robots assume a constant center of mass height throughout the gait as part of the model.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Dec. 2018
The center of mass would move 2.9 centimeters from its previous position.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
The approximate location of the center of pressure is denoted by a dot in the upper left diagram; the distance from it to the robot’s center of mass is given by r cp.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Feb. 2019
Powered by three solar panels, the spacecraft was designed to stick the landing with shock-absorbing feet, a low center of mass and a wide footprint, according to Firefly Aerospace.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
Coogan said Blue Ghost's designers intentionally chose a shape for the spacecraft that puts the center of mass as low to the ground as possible.
—Kristin Shaw, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 25 June 2025
Check out the relationship between Soto’s bat speed and his point of contact, which in the table below is measured from the front of Soto’s center of mass.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 16 May 2025
This shift affected their leg positioning and pushed their center of mass forward.
—Joseph M. Mahoney, The Conversation, 6 May 2025
However, most walking models used for robots assume a constant center of mass height throughout the gait as part of the model.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 Dec. 2018
The center of mass would move 2.9 centimeters from its previous position.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
The approximate location of the center of pressure is denoted by a dot in the upper left diagram; the distance from it to the robot’s center of mass is given by r cp.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Feb. 2019
Powered by three solar panels, the spacecraft was designed to stick the landing with shock-absorbing feet, a low center of mass and a wide footprint, according to Firefly Aerospace.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025
Coogan said Blue Ghost's designers intentionally chose a shape for the spacecraft that puts the center of mass as low to the ground as possible.
—Kristin Shaw, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Center of mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/center%20of%20mass. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share