A frequently encountered question on social media is "How does this not fall?" How about trying the famous balance experiment at home? This activity, which both triggers children's curiosity and visualizes the concept of center of gravity, can be done with just a few kitchen utensils.
Required Materials
1 medium-sized apple (or a hard fruit/object)
2 identical dinner forks
1 or 2 toothpicks
A flat surface (or a steady grip as shown in the image)
How to Perform a Balance Experiment?
Combine the Forks: Clamp the tines of the two forks so that they mesh together. Make sure the forks are firmly attached to each other; There should be a slight angle between them.
Insert the Toothpick: Insert a toothpick horizontally or slightly inclined into the middle point of the clamping forks (where the teeth meet).
Find the Balance Point: Gently place the free end of the toothpick onto the end of another toothpick you have planted on the apple or directly on the apple.
Release: When the center of mass of the forks is directly below the support point of the toothpick, the system will remain suspended in the air and will not fall even if shaken slightly.
The Scientific Secret: What is the Center of Gravity?
The reason why this experiment looks so surprising is that the center of gravity of the system is directly below or in line with the point of support (the tip of the toothpick). Since the handles of the forks hang downwards, the weight shifts downwards, providing perfect balance on the tip of the toothpick.
