Chapter 12, Problem 27A

If you walked along the top of a fence, why would holding your arms out help you to balance?

To determine

The reason that holding the arms out while walking along the top of a fence helps in balancing.

Answer to Problem 27A

It will increase the rotational inertia of the person and thereby making it difficult to change the rotational speed.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The more the distance of the mass’s concentration from the axis of rotation, the more is the rotational inertia of the object.

While walking along the top of a fence, if a man holds his arm out then its rotational inertia will increase.

Now, it is known that more the rotational inertia of an object, the more difficult it is to change its rotational speed.

Conclusion:

Hence, by increasing the rotational inertia and thereby making it difficult to change its rotational speed, the holding the arms out helps in balancing while walking along the top of a fence.