The centre of mass of the combined solid will be on the axis of
symmetry at distance
from the vertex of the cone. The
total mass is
By taking moments about the vertex of the cone:
This gives
from the vertex of the
cone.Label the vertex of the cone as
, a point on the rim of
the face where the two solids are joined as
, the centre of this
circular face (on the axis of symmetry) as
and the point where
the axis of symmetry cuts the curved surface of the hemisphere as
.
(i) If
then the centre of mass is inside the hemisphere at a
distance
from the centre of the circular base. For this
position of the centroid (and all points inside the hemisphere) the
body rolls to rest with the lowest point of the hemisphere
in
contact with the table and the equilibrium is stable.
(ii) For
the centre of mass of the solid is at a distance
from
and inside the cone. For this position of the centre of
mass (and all positions inside the cone) the body will roll to a
position of equilibrium with a generator of the cone in contact with
the table. The only exceptions are when it is placed on
or
with the axis of symmetry vertical which are unstable positions of
equilibrium.
(iii) If the centre of mass is at
then
and in this
case, with any point on the curved surface of the hemisphere in
contact with the table, the centre of mass is always vertically
above the point of contact, so the body will be in equilibrium.
In this case the angle of the cone is
and the slant height
is equal to the diameter of the hemisphere.
The equilibrium is unstable when the point of contact is on the rim
between the hemisphere and the cone, and stable for all other points
of contact between the hemisphere and the table.
(iv) In summary
* for
, the angle of the cone greater than
,
the body comes to rest with
in contact with
the table and equilibrium is stable;
* for
, the angle of the cone
,
the body will rest in stable equilibrium if it
is placed on the table either with a point of the hemisphere in
contact with the table or with a generator of the cone in contact
with the table. If it is placed with
(on the rim between the
cone and the hemisphere) in contact with the table then the
equilibrium is semi-stable. if tipped towards the cone it will fall
to rest on a generator, if tipped the other way it will rest
wherever it is moved to with the hemisphere in contact with the
table.
* for
, the angle of the cone less than
,
the body will roll to a stable equilibrium
position with a generator in contact with the table. The exceptional
cases are unstable equilibrium with
or
in contact with the
table.