Balancing Toy
Introduction (100 words)
"Balancing toy" is a center of mass toy, which is designed to demonstrate the concept of center of mass in a fun, hands-on way. A center of mass toy is made so that its weight is distributed in a special way, letting it balance on a small point or edge—even if it looks like it should tip over. The toy teaches how the center of mass affects stability and balance, helping students understand physics through play.
The center of mass of an object is the point where its mass is evenly distributed in all directions, and where gravity can be thought to act. If you balance an object at its center of mass, it won't fall over—it stays steady and balanced. Understanding the center of mass helps explain why some things fall or stay balanced, whether it's a toy, a gymnast, or even a building.
Precautions
Nil
Materials required
- Balancing toy
- A belt
Science behind it
The toy shaped like a question mark works because of the idea of the center of mass. The center of mass is a special point in an object where you can think of all its weight as being focused. In this toy, extra weight is added to the bottom curve of the question mark. This makes the center of mass lower and right below the point where the toy balances, like on a finger. Because the center of mass is below the balance point, the toy stays steady and doesn't fall over even though it looks like it might. If you nudge it, the toy swings back to its balance position because gravity pulls the center of mass back down. This is called stable equilibrium.
So, the toy shows how moving the center of mass changes how something balances. It's a fun way to learn about balance, gravity, and how objects stay steady or tip over based on where their weight is.