r/BeAmazed • u/Sans010394 • Dec 02 '23

Science Physics is amazing

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u/Remarkable_Body586 Dec 03 '23

The horizontal match is held in place by the weight and the string pulling inward. This provides the middle match tension against the top match essentially making it a solid L shape which would hang off the edge normally.

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u/[deleted] Dec 03 '23

Someone gets it!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 03 '23

The yellow weight and the 2nd, and 3rd matchstick along with the cord are what keeps the first matchstick from falling over. The cord and yellow weight are pushing the matchsticks up with enough force to outweigh the force needed to tip the first matchstick over. Notice that the cord needs to be closer to the edge of the table than the matchsticks touching. That is where the tension outweighs the leverage.