súlypont

Súlypont, commonly translated as center of gravity, is the point in a body or system at which the total gravitational force can be considered to act. It is the point where the weight vector can be regarded as applied. In a uniform gravitational field, the súlypont coincides with the center of mass; in a nonuniform field or within a nonhomogeneous object, they can differ.

For rigid bodies with uniform density, the súlypont corresponds to the geometric centroid. For irregular shapes or varying density, it is determined by integrating the mass distribution: the weighted average of positions, or, in discrete form, x_c = ∑ m_i x_i / ∑ m_i. In practice, the súlypont can be found experimentally by balancing the object on a fulcrum or by suspending it from different points and tracing where the lines of action converge.

Significance: The súlypont influences stability and handling. An object is in translational equilibrium when the support passes through the súlypont, or when the resultant weight line falls within the base of support; tipping depends on the súlypont’s position relative to that base. Engineers manage the súlypont in products such as vehicles, furniture, and aircraft to ensure predictable behavior. In humans and animals, posture and movement shift the súlypont, affecting balance and performance.

Notes: The term súlypont is Hungarian; in physics texts it is often called the center of gravity or center of mass, depending on whether gravity is uniform. In everyday language, súlypont denotes the balance point where weight effectively acts.