Leaning stack: where is the center of mass
Two stacks of books: one with a careful overhang and one with too much. One stands, the other falls — the center of mass decides.
Interactive experiments for kids, students and teachers. Run each one right on the page, then open a copy in the Tymora editor and change mass, friction, elasticity or gravity. Every experiment comes with discussion questions and a version to try at home.
Two stacks of books: one with a careful overhang and one with too much. One stands, the other falls — the center of mass decides.
Two cranes hold the same load. One has a counterweight and its jib stays level; the other’s jib tips over.
A 20 kg load on the long arm lifts a 50 kg stone when the fulcrum is close to the stone. With the fulcrum in the middle the stone stays put.
A forearm holds 1 kg and 3 kg in the hand. The muscle attaches close to the elbow, so it pulls several times harder than the load weighs.