newton's second law

The Breakdown: The Accidental Gymnast

A moving sled and a static reporter make for one perfect expression of torque



This video provides a beautiful illustration of Newton’s Second Law in both its linear and angular form. The discombobulated newscaster experiences a linear acceleration in a backward direction, and a clockwiseangular acceleration that gets him spinning, all as a result of the force of the sled’s impact.

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A Balancing Act

How can something that appears to defy the laws of physics follow them so perfectly?


The counterintuitive demonstration in the video is a beautiful example of the concept of center of gravity. It sure looks like the fork and spoon should immediately teeter off of the glass and crash onto the table. And it’s even more dramatic when half of the matchstick burns away but the contraption still balances on the edge of the glass. But it’s all physics.

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