It is an extra credit question for my science class. We are currently learning about the center of gravity/balance if that helps. Thanks!
2007-04-30 11:17:20 · 4 answers · asked by flmumb 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
@tinkertailor: The nails must be end to end on top of each other. The log cabin idea couldn't work.
2007-04-30 12:17:18 · update #1
The link below shows how to balance ten nails on top of one nail.
2007-04-30 14:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is that the whole question, any other restrictions, or especially a definition on "on top of each other" obviously not all the nails can be on on top of all the other nails.
If one lays two nails horizontally on the floor, parallel and a 2/3 or so of their length apart, one could stack the rest log cabin style on top and have a stable stack with 80% of them on top of other nails.
EDIT:
Thomas, that is pretty cool. I'm not sure it answers the problem of "balance 10 nails on the floor" since for the method shown in the link an additional support is needed, in one picture an eleventh nail is driven into a block, in another they are bing held by a person, but is still a clever idea.
2007-04-30 11:36:37 · answer #2 · answered by tinkertailorcandlestickmaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the nails are all symmetric, you can theoretically put them on top of each, and their centers of gravity will all lie right above each other, so the pile would not fall over. However, in real life, it would be very hard to get the centers of gravity lined up and also hard to place nails on the pile without exerting a slight horizontal force that would knock everything over. But it is possible.
2007-04-30 11:23:56 · answer #3 · answered by CTU Alemeida 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
End to end? I think not. Perfectly manufactured nails would be required. Nails were never intended for this purpose, and manufacturing tolerances are nowhere near tight enough to give perfectly balanced nails.
2007-04-30 16:04:25 · answer #4 · answered by Brad B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋