Assessing validity of the reaction board method with suspension method to determine center of gravity

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity of the indigenously developed reaction board method in relation to the already established suspension method to evaluate its accuracy for determining the centre of gravity in the longitudinal axis. The sample comprised of 264 wooden logs of different weights and lengths. The sample was classified in six groups; three on the basis of weight i.e. light weight (N1=52), middle weight (N2=159), heavy weight (N3=53); and three on the basis of length i.e. short length (N4=35), medium length (N5=34), tall length (N6=195); based on the percentiles for weight and lengths computed independently. The variables for the study included weight, length, RBMCGB (CG measured from bottom while using reaction board method), RBMCGT (CG measured from top while using reaction board method), SMCGB (CG measured from bottom while using suspension method), and SMCGT (CG measured from top while using suspension method). The data was collected while following standard protocols. Mean, standard deviation, percentile and product-moment coefficient of correlation were used to analyze the data. The study concluded that the indigenously developed reaction board method is a valid tool for determining the centre of gravity.