Embedded Files
Driving Question
- Can two forks be balanced with a toothpick on a glass?
Introduction - The center of gravity of any object is the point about which you can balance as if all the masses were concentrated or gathered at this point. It's the point at which the object balances from left to right, front and back, and top and bottom. In the balancing fork act, the center of gravity is directly below the spot where the toothpick rests at the rim of the glass. So our project is basically finding the center of the mass, stable equilibrium, and to see it defying gravity. Our group wants to grasp the concept of how a cup and a toothpick can help balance forks.
Materials
- Two forks
- One toothpick
- One glass filled with water
Procedure
1. Start by pushing the forks together (technically referred to as wedging the tines of the forks)
2. Balance the forks on your finger to find the middle point. This is where the toothpick should be inserted between the fingers (tines) of the fork.
3. Carefully rest the toothpick on the rim of the glass. Just slide the toothpick back and forth along the rim until you think you've found the perfect balancing point. Slowly pull your hands away to reveal the amazing balancing fork contraption.
4. You can add another step by lighting the toothpick on fire.
Safety
-goggles
- no horse playing
- hair tied back
- adult supervision
Pictures and/or Action Video
Scientific Principal
-Center of Gravity, This system ( two forks, match/toothpick, glass) is in equilibrium. This means there are no net forces or net torques acting on it, thus it is balancing. Since the two forks are some distance away from the pivot point the force they are applying to the toothpick/match actually results in a torque. Now the burning of the toothpick/match stops exactly at the glass rim because the glass suddenly absorbs the heat of the flame and the temperature drops below the woods kindling point. The flame at the fork will be extinguished for the same reasons. This transfer of heat occurs because the silverware and the glass are at room temperature, which is obviously much cooler than the burning match. This difference in temperature encourages the transfer of heat. Wood is an insulator. This means it has a low thermal conductivity, much lower than any metal and a bit lower than glass.
This the glass and metal conduct heat to a greater capacity. This as well contributes to the heat transfer.
Real Life Application
Where and how do we use balancing forks. Its being used in physics classrooms to show the center of gravity.
How does can balancing forks benefit our society. It benefits by knowing what is the center of gravity.What are the future benefits and application of this project.We can learn physics in our own home and find out the center of gravity. Idealization of reality makes it possible to set aside the things people think they know about the real world, where events are complicated due to friction. The latter may be defined as a force that resists motion when the surface of one object comes into contact with the surface of another. If two balls are released in an environment free from friction—one of them simply dropped while the other is rolled down a curved surface or inclined plane—they will reach the bottom at the same time. This seems to go against everything that is known, but that is only because what people "know" is complicated by variables that have nothing to do with gravity.This permitted physicists to study processes that apparently defy common sense. For instance, in the real world, an apple does drop at a greater rate of speed than does a feather. However, in a vacuum, they will drop at the same rate. Since Galileo's time, it has become commonplace for physicists to discuss specific processes such as gravity with the assumption that all non-pertinent factors are nonexistent or irrelevant. This greatly simplified the means of testing hypotheses.
Investigation Questions
1.How can two heavy forks be defying gravity?
-because the more weight they have on both ends the center of gravity lowers .
2.Without the toothpick can the two forks still balance with the cup? Why?
-No because it needs the toothpick in order to sit on the glass cup.
3. Why do we need a cup and tooth pick for the two forks to be able to balance the way they do?
-We need the cup, because we need a short.
4.Can a fork balance by itself without support of another fork? Why?
-No it can not balance on its self, because it needs the same amount on both sides.
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