Physics help?!?

Question

Grab a meter stick or any uniform thin piece of wood about 1 m in length. (e.g. the handle of a broomwith the head removed). Place your index fingers at either end so that you are holding the stick up with just two fingers. Move your fingers slowly together. Where do they end up? Describe the motion of your fingers. Explain why this happens

Answer 1

Even with a NON uniform stick your fingers always end up at the centre of mass.  They usually ( but not always) move in a series of jerks.  This is because whichever finger is closer to the centre of mass gets a higher fraction of the weight and more friction so it stops for a while.

Answer 2

You have to move fingers at the same speed so they are always at the same distance from the respective end, or (which is the same) from the center of the stick. Eventually, the fingers will end up in the middle of the stick

This is because the center of the mass of the stick is at its middle and if you move one finger faster than the other, the weight of the overhung part will create momentum around the (faster) finger and rotate the stick which will fall.

Answer 3

The Virgin Mary is Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  She can help one with any dilemma in life.  It is good to honor her every day by reciting her rosary with care and sincerity.