Final answer:
The forklift will tip over if its center of gravity moves outside the base of support, due to gravitational torque acting on the forklift which causes it to lose balance and rotate around a pivot point.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the center of gravity (CG) or combined center of gravity (CCG) of the forklift moves outside of the base of support, it will tip over. The base of support is the area that includes all of the points of contact that an object has with the supporting surface, such as the wheels of a forklift on the floor. As long as the center of gravity is within this area, the forklift will remain in a state of equilibrium and not tip over. However, if the center of gravity lies outside the base of support, the gravitational torque will cause the forklift to rotate around a pivot point, leading to a loss of balance and tipping over.
Gravitational torque is produced when the line of action of the weight force acting on an object's center of gravity is offset from the pivot. In a forklift, tipping occurs if this line extends outside the wheels' contact area with the ground, which serves as the pivot. This concept applies not only to forklifts but to any object at risk of tipping, emphasizing the importance of load distribution for maintaining stability.