How does holding a long horizontal pole help with balance when walking across some narrow bridge or rope?
In: 2
it increases rotational inertia,
which means it makes walker’s mistake as relatively small compared to the big pole.
The pole will make their rotational inertia around their feet (basically higher rotational inertia means its harder to rotate them, in this case that means falling over) much larger. Hopefully so much larger that any changes in their own body stance or any outside influences like wind will not be enough to make them fall.
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#ELI5
There’s a [see-saw](https://img.freepik.com/free-vector/cartoon-character-girls-playing-seesaw-white-background_1308-53977.jpg) at a playground.
There is a person on both ends of the see-saw.
Both people are the same weight.
The see-saw is balanced, neither side is dipping low.
You are going to walk up to one end, and using **just your index finger**, you press on that side, and you want to make that side dip down.
Okay?
Which is easier to move, with just your finger?
* A balanced see-saw with two 30-pound toddlers on each end?
* A balanced see-saw with two 300-pound sumo wrestlers on each end?
Instinct tells you it’ll be harder to unbalance the sumo wrestlers.
That’s because the more something weighs, the harder it is to get started moving.
ALSO
Another see-saw. Two 150-pound adults equally balanced.
Which is easier to tip with just your index finger?
* See-saw is 10 feet long?
* See-saw is 40 feet long?
Instinct tells you the longer one is harder to tip. The distance from the center (fulcrum) makes a difference.
Okay so far?
Heavier ends: Harder to tip.
Longer see-saw: Harder to tip.
**NOW YOU** are the see-saw. You’re standing on the tightrope, but pretend you’re a see-saw.
You hold your arms out to your sides. Those are the two halves of the see-saw. Your hands are empty.
Someone’s going to try to unbalance you with just their index finger on your palm.
Is it easier to unbalance you if your arms are 2 feet long? Or easier if your arms are 6 feet long?
The POLE makes your ARMS LONGER (in effect).
Is it easier to tip you if your hands are empty, or each of your hands are holding a gallon of water?
The POLE is HEAVY. Like the sumo wrestlers.
Does this help?
*This is ELI5*. So yes, this is dumbed down, and not quite precise, and not always correct in every situation. Ignore all that. This isn’t a college-level physics lesson.
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