Finding the Center of Volume of the Forearm

Abstract

A typical first-year physics course teaches students about the center of mass using both regular and irregularly shaped objects. Students often suspend an object in each of two dimensions from a string with the intersection determining the center of mass of the object. While these methods can be effective, they are not particularly exciting or motivating. Wouldn't it be more interesting to find the center of mass of a body part, such as the forearm? Through a series of simple measurements and assumptions, students can generate a first-order approximation of the center of volume and center of mass of their forearm. Comparisons can be made between the muscular forearm of the football player in the class with the scrawniest arm in the room, creating a deeper understanding of center of mass and how it relates to the human body.