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Nerdy Curio

 January 26, 2018

How Long Can You Balance a Pencil?

2 CQ

In today's Nerdy Curio from Minute Physics, why balancing top-heavy objects is so hard.

Aired August 7, 2015

All Minute Physics content is available at minutephysics.com

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    3 Comments
    500 characters max

    Theresa Q
    Now how did Rosie character in league of their own do to bat balance trick?
    appreciate appreciated
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    Carolyn R
    I just wanted to brag that I can balance a spoon on my nose without leaning backwards. Has nothing to do with the science here, but I just had to tell you.
    appreciate appreciated
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    Tom H
    This is inaccurate. It is easier for a human to actively balance a top-heavy object like a sledgehammer with metal end up than putting the metal end down on your hand. That is because the quick back and forth motions needed to balance the sledgehammer are much easier in the first case because the handle, made of wood, has less inertia. Try it yourself or with any other similarly weighted object.
    appreciate appreciated
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