Brain Teasers
Tightrope Walkers
Tightrope walkers frequently carry a long pole to help them balance. Why does this help?
Answer
A tightrope walker remains standing by keeping his center of mass directly above the rope. If his center of mass moves off center, he must correct this or he will rotate off the rope and fall down. By carrying a long pole, the performer is increasing his rotational inertia. This means that he will rotate slower and therefore have more time to make a correction to his center of mass. The balancing poles are frequently droopy and weighted at the tips. This lowers the center of mass of the performer, which also makes it easier to balance.Hide Answer Show Answer
What Next?
View a Similar Brain Teaser...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Solve a Puzzle
Comments
i kinda got that. fun.
I'd say that was a...well balanced answer.
was I right to say center of gravity instead of center of mass?
Omega is right too. The long pole does lower the walker's center of gravity from his stomach, to closer to his feet,(if the pole is long enough, than their center of gravity can be lowered all the way to the feet) making it easier to balance.
that really wasnt a teaser, butt......
That realy wasn't a teaser.
I have always wanted to know how that works. Thanks.
Lowering the center of gravity is a bad thing, but this is more than compensated by the increased moment of inertia. See the "baseball bat" teaser.
I expect it to be:
The beam corrects the weight on both sides of the center of gravity. Allowing the walker to balance.
Some call it center of mass. I call it the center of gravity.
The beam corrects the weight on both sides of the center of gravity. Allowing the walker to balance.
Some call it center of mass. I call it the center of gravity.
nice one
To post a comment, please create an account and sign in.
Follow Braingle!