🏗️The block stacking problem involves building a tower of blocks that can overhang without falling over.
🛕The Leaning Tower of Lire is a mechanical solution to the block stacking problem.
🔢The amount of overhang decreases in a harmonic series: 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, etc.
🃏Playing cards can be used to demonstrate the block stacking problem and the diminishing returns of overhang.
🦊Self-righting toys exploit the concept of center of gravity to balance and return to an upright position.
What is the block stacking problem?
—The block stacking problem is about building a tower of blocks that can overhang without falling over.
What is the Leaning Tower of Lire?
—The Leaning Tower of Lire is a mechanical solution to the block stacking problem, where blocks are stacked in a way that they can overhang without falling over.
What is a harmonic series?
—A harmonic series is a sequence of numbers where the difference between each term becomes smaller in a specific ratio.
How can playing cards be used to demonstrate the block stacking problem?
—Playing cards can be stacked to show diminishing returns in the amount of overhang as more cards are added.
What are self-righting toys?
—Self-righting toys are objects that can balance and return to an upright position due to their center of gravity.
00:00Introduction and overview of the block stacking problem.
00:20Demonstration of building a Leaning Tower of Lire using blocks.
01:08Explanation of the center of gravity and its role in stability.
02:49Demonstration of the diminishing returns of overhang with each new block.
04:58Introduction to the concept of a harmonic series.
08:26Discussion of self-righting toys and their use of center of gravity.
09:35Explanation of stable and unstable equilibrium states.
10:58Drawing the shape and equilibrium states of a self-righting toy.
11:47Introduction of center of gravity toys, such as balancing birds and Russian dolls.
13:30Demonstration of a self-righting toy's ability to stay upright.
