Engineering English
Center of Gravity
Aerospace Engineering · Engineering Fundamentals · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: The point in a body where the weight is considered to be concentrated. For an aircraft, the center of gravity (CG) location affects stability and control characteristics.
Example in context
“The aircraft's center of gravity shifted aft after the fuel was consumed from the forward tanks, affecting longitudinal stability.”
“Uçağın ağırlık merkezi, ön tanklardaki yakıt tüketildikten sonra arkaya kayarak boylamsal dengeyi etkiledi.”
Where engineers use it
Center of gravity calculations are fundamental for weight and balance. Loadmasters and pilots use CG location to determine allowable cargo placement and fuel burn sequence for safe flight.
Synonyms: CG, center of mass
In Engineering Fundamentals
The single point at which the entire weight of a body can be considered to act for analysis purposes.
“Loading heavy cargo too high raises the center of gravity and makes the truck easier to tip over.”
Practice: can you use “Center of Gravity” at work?
The cargo loading plan shows the combined CG is slightly aft of the aft limit. You have a fuel burn schedule. How can you adjust to keep the CG within limits?
Show a model answer
“Ensure the center of gravity stays within the certified limits for takeoff.”
“Center of Gravity” in 21 languages
| English | Center of Gravity |
|---|---|
| Turkish | ağırlık merkezi |
| French | centre de gravité |
| German | Schwerpunkt |
| Spanish | centro de gravedad |
| Chinese | 重心 |
| Arabic | مركز الثقالة |
| Portuguese | centro de gravidade |
| Russian | центр тяжести |
| Japanese | 重心 |
| Italian | centro di gravità |
| Vietnamese | trọng tâm |
| Hindi | गुरुत्वाकर्षण केंद्र |
| Thai | จุดศูนย์ถ่วง |
| Indonesian | pusat gravitasi |
| Korean | 무게 중심 |
| Bengali | মাধ্যাকর্ষণ কেন্দ্র |
| Dutch | zwaartepunt |
| Swedish | tyngdpunkt |
| Finnish | painopiste |
| Ukrainian | центр ваги |
Frequently asked questions
What does Center of Gravity mean in engineering?
The point in a body where the weight is considered to be concentrated. For an aircraft, the center of gravity (CG) location affects stability and control characteristics. In Aerospace Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Center of Gravity?
Center of Gravity is pronounced /ˈsɛntər əv ˈɡrævɪti/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Center of Gravity used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The aircraft's center of gravity shifted aft after the fuel was consumed from the forward tanks, affecting longitudinal stability.”
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