Science Fun

Hammer Head Force And Motion Science Experiment

In this fun and easy force and motion science experiment, we’re going balance a ruler in a seemingly impossible way by using a hammer to find the center of gravity. 

 

Materials:

  • Ruler
  • Hammer
  • Tape
  • 18 inches of string

Instructions:

  1. Tie on end of the string to the hammer.
  2. Use the tape to hold the string in place.
  3. Now tie a loop in the string.
  4. Slide the loop onto the ruler.
  5. Place about four inches of the end of the ruler on a table. The handle of the hammer should touch the far end of the ruler.
  6. It may take a few tries and adjustments to find the center of gravity but you should be able to get the hammer to balance with just a few inches of the ruler remaining on the table. 


 

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How it Works:

Gravity pulling down on the hammer head pushes up on the end of the handle. The hammer handle pushes up on one end of the ruler, which causes the other end of the ruler to push down against the table. The string is the balancing point, which is called the fulcrum.

 

Make This A Science Project:

Try balancing other items. Try scaling the experiment up with a yardstick, bigger item, and longer string. Try stacking coins on the end of the ruler. 

 

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