Gravitational Center
The gravitational center, also known as the center of mass, is the point in an object or system where its mass is evenly distributed. This point is crucial in understanding how objects move and interact under the influence of gravity. For example, in a simple system like a seesaw, the gravitational center helps determine how the seesaw balances based on the weight and position of people sitting on either side.
In larger systems, such as planets or galaxies, the gravitational center can shift based on the distribution of mass. For instance, the Earth and the Moon orbit around a common gravitational center, which is located inside the Earth but not at its center. Understanding the gravitational center is essential in fields like astronomy and physics, as it influences orbits and stability.