centre of gravity

Hanging Forks

This simple demonstration can be done anywhere at home using the following items:

  1. an empty glass
  2. a toothpick
  3. two forks
The video below demonstrates how to do it. When the forks are balanced on the mouth of the glass with the toothpick, the centre of gravity of the forks-and-toothpick system will adjust itself so that it lies vertically below the pivoting point. This is possible because the forks form a V-shape within which the centre of gravity can exist.