A Seemingly Impossible Block-Stacking Problem Has a Preposterous SolutionAnd You Can Try It at Home
Briefly

An experiment using children's blocks illustrates how a stack can have an overhang extending indefinitely. Starting with one block, it balances half off the table. Stacking two or more blocks reveals a potential for the stack to extend even further. The foundational concept is tied to the harmonic series and center of mass, suggesting that the top of the block structure can defy expectations by approaching infinite length. Practical realities hinder such constructions, but the mathematics provides valuable insights into balance and physics.
This experiment demonstrates that by stacking children's blocks, one can achieve an overhang that theoretically extends indefinitely according to the principles of physics and mathematics.
The key to understanding the limitless overhang lies in the harmonic series and the physics of the center of mass, concepts that illustrate the balance of forces.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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