Perception .

Balancing Stick

Balancing stick is a long plastic stick with a weight on one end. Visitors are invited to balance the stick on the end of a finger, first with the weighted end down, then with the weighted end up. The stick is easier to balance when the weight is near the top. The stick rotates more slowly when the mass is at the top, allowing more time to adjust and maintain balance. The farther away the mass is located from the axis of rotation (in this case, the hand), the greater the rotational inertia, and the slower the stick turns.