Book 10, Question 24
Why Practice Balance?
Practicing balance trains the sensors in your ears, eyes, and muscles to work as a team! Better balance means fewer tumbles. Balance is a skill you can practice, not a talent switch.
More fun facts
- Gravity pulls on you as if all your body's mass were squeezed into one point, called your center of mass.
- You feel balanced when your center of mass is right above whatever supports you, like your feet.
- Gravity is what makes it hard to balance on one foot.
- When you stand against a wall, your center of mass is over your feet, so you stay balanced.
- Some balance challenges stop you from shifting your center of mass, which makes you tip over.
Sources: Scientific American
Questions kids ask
Why is balancing on one foot harder?
Your support is smaller, so it is harder to keep your center of mass right above it.