CH. IX 



DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT 



*33 



Therefore in going up-hill, a portion of the weight 

 is transferred to the hind wheels, which is an ad- 

 vantage, since they are larger than the front wheels. 



For comparison, the following average weights of 

 different vehicles are given : A Char a bancs Break, 

 1600 pounds ; Demi-mail Phaeton without perch, 

 800; City Brougham, 1000 to 1100; Landau, 1500. 



CENTRE OF GRAVITY 



We now come to one of the divisions of our sub- 

 ject, important from a practical point of view : — the 

 position of the centre of gravity of a coach. 



The centre of gravity of a body is that point in 

 which its whole weight may be considered as con- 

 centrated ; in a symmetrical body of equal thick- 

 ness and equal density in all its parts, it is at the 

 centre of figure of the body. For 

 example, a square piece of board of 

 even thickness will have its centre 

 of gravity at the point at which its 

 two diagonals cross (Fig. 64). 



If at that point we bore a hole, FlG - 6 4- 



and hang the board on a smooth pin, the board will 

 remain in any position into which we turn it, be- 



