4x4 Balance

PIRA 1J11.22

Materials: 8 4x4's

Balance the set of 3' 4x4's on the edge of a table.  Start with all of them stacked flush with the table edge.  Move the top block out over the table edge so that its center of mass is almost to the end of the block beneath it.  Move the second block from the top out so that the center of mass of the top two blocks are almost to the end of the third block from the top.  Continue this with all of the blocks until the bottom block is moved out over the table edge, and until the center of mass for the entire stack is almost to the table edge, as shown in the first picture.

The top block should stick out so that all of it is beyond the table edge.

For an extra "twist", rotate each of the blocks about the edge of the block beneath them to get the "stair look" in the second picture.

This also works well with railroad ties.