Jason+Soong


 * __Forks Balancing on a Salt Shaker With Toothpicks__**

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The picture above shows two forks balanced in a salt shaker through two toothpicks joined at a right angle. This physics phenomenon can be explained through balance, gravity, and center of mass. Gravity is the constant force that acts on the entire set-up, pushing both the toothpicks and the forks downwards. The normal expectation is that gravity would force the horizontal toothpick to fall off the vertical one, causing the forks to fall down too. However, balance and center of mass are used to keep the toothpicks and forks up. Center of mass is the idea that a perfect point of balance can be found when the masses on either side of the point are equal. When you find the center of mass of the horizontal toothpick plus the two forks, it comes out to be exactly at location of the vertical toothpick, allowing the system to be balanced.

Center of mass is an idea that is present in all objects in our daily lives. The center of mass is the point where the masses on either side are equal. A book hanging off the edge of a desk is able to stay on because the center of mass is still on the table. In the picture above, the center of mass of the forks are directly in the center, keeping the forks from tipping over and falling off.

Gravity is the concept that the extremely massive earth has a great attraction to the lesser massed objects, pulling the objects in towards its core. Gravity keeps people from floating up in the air and keeps everything rooted to the ground. Gravity keeps the horizontal toothpick pushed down onto the vertical toothpick and keeps the overall setup on the table.

Balance is the combination of the ideas of gravity and center of mass. Through gravity keeping the setup on the table and the center of mass of the forks and toothpicks staying in a line, the forks and toothpicks are able to be balanced. Balance can be achieved when the center of gravity of multiple objects are alined.

Physics Topics: @Balance, @Gravity, @Center of Mass