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 Equinox Egg Equilibrium Experiment
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GeeMack
SFN Regular

USA
1093 Posts

Posted - 03/20/2006 :  14:01:22  Show Profile Send GeeMack a Private Message
They say if you take a raw egg and stand it on its end, right at the moment of the equinox, it will balance, standing upright. So today at 12:26 CST, the moment of the vernal equinox, I was ready with an egg, a witness, and my camera. As the moment approached I carefully set the egg on end on a smooth topped table. I steadied it a bit, then slowly drew my hand away. Lo and behold, there it was, a raw egg, balanced perfectly on its end on a smooth surface.


Okay, okay, the egg is actually balanced on its end, but the notion that it can only be done on the equinox is a myth. An egg generally has a slightly bumpy texture which assists in getting it to stay upright. With a bit of patience, and sometimes choosing a particularly bumpy egg, one can be made to balance any day of the year. It's an old myth, and even though it's been widely explained it seems likely to persist because of the slightly mysterious aspect.

The myth is exposed at the Bad Astronomy web site. Another article about this myth can be found in the Urban Legends section at About.com. And dozens more explanations can be found by Googling balance egg equinox. Enjoy!

filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 03/20/2006 :  14:23:17   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message
Wheb I was in school, we had a teacher demonstrate that one. Hadn't thought about it in years. Thanks!




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The Bad Astronomer
Skeptic Friend

137 Posts

Posted - 03/28/2006 :  16:08:19   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit The Bad Astronomer's Homepage Send The Bad Astronomer a Private Message
FWIW, I have two blog entries up about this; one involving a Playboy bunny, and the other is a video of me standing eggs up.

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http://www.badastronomy.com
"With tremendous respect to [the] BA, the problem isn't getting scientists to talk, the problem can be getting them to shut up."
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard

USA
4907 Posts

Posted - 03/28/2006 :  17:46:09   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Ricky an AOL message Send Ricky a Private Message
If you look at the shadows on the egg carton, they look to be at a slightly different angle than the shadow of the egg. Also, in the bottom right corner of the picture is a small symbol like shape on the table, obviously the marking of a prop that someone forgot to hide. The flash from the camera highlights can be seen in parts of the egg cartoon, but why not the egg? Also, you can see the start of the dark side of the egg, presumably where the flash didn't reach, and yet, it is in view of the camera!

Nice try, but this photo is so obviously a fake.

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- Isaac Asimov
Edited by - Ricky on 03/28/2006 17:49:45
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend

Sweden
9687 Posts

Posted - 03/28/2006 :  22:18:18   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Dr. Mabuse an ICQ Message Send Dr. Mabuse a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer

FWIW, I have two blog entries up about this; one involving a Playboy bunny, and the other is a video of me standing eggs up.

Awesome technique getting the eggs to stand like that...


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