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Questions for Discussion: Center of Gravity: Pencil Balance
Can you explain why the wire and clothespins help the pencil to balance? What would happen if you moved the wire higher on the pencil? Would it balance? Why or why not? Would it balance if the clothespins were heavier or lighter? Could you construct a toy that uses the same principles? Explain why or why not. Have you ever seen a high wire artist? How is this similar to what they do? Is it easier or harder to balance a yardstick on your finger than a pencil or ruler? Experiment and try to figure out why. Can you make a pencil easier to balance on your finger by adding weight at the top? Explain.
