3 ms·
I think you are being sarcastic, because I can balance a broom a lot better than a pencil on my finger, so I'm going to discuss my thoughts behind why. Based o
by jermaustin1 7y ago
I think you are being sarcastic, because I can balance a broom a lot better than a pencil on my finger, so I'm going to discuss my thoughts behind why.
Based on what you are saying and tomxor in a sibling comment. Stability seems to increase with scale. Maybe it has something to do with weight, or center of mass, or a combination of the two.
I know that the longer the object you are balancing upright on your finger (or palm for something bigger than a broom), the easier it is to compensate the shifts in center of mass as it tilts. For a pencil, technically i guess it is "easier" to balance if you are a machine able to make the fine micro adjustments required.
- londons_explore 7y agoThe equation for the period of a pendulum has sqrt(l) in it. Therefore, I would guess that to get equal dynamics at a minimum, the feedback loop speed (the time for your hand to respond in the case of the broom) has to increase by the square root of the scale factor.
- jermaustin1 7y agoAnd that is why I'm a web developer ;)... I chose to avoid all math after high school, how dare you bring formulas into my civilized, philosophical discussion!
- that_jojo 7y agoIt's inertia. Among other things, the much higher inertia of the broomstick has a damping effect on changes in its motion.