Mass
Forces and Motion
Wobbly Stick
Enrichment Activity for 5-11 11-14
- Level Elementary
What you need
- A stick (1m long)
- A lump of clay
Instructions
- Push a lump of clay about the size of your fist on to the stick 20cm from the end
- With the clay-end closest to your hand, try balancing the stick
- Now turn the stick upside down and try balancing it again
Results and Explanation
It's much easier to balance it the second way. The stick rotates slower when the clay is at the top, so there's more time to adjust and keep it balanced. The further the mass is from the centre of rotation (your hand), the slower it rotates.
