Weight Experiment: A Study of the Impact of Weight on Stability
Abstract
This experiment examined the effect of weight on stability. 20 participants were asked to stand on a balance board while holding a weight in each hand. The weight of the items varied from one to five kilograms. The results showed that the heavier the weight, the greater the instability. Furthermore, the heavier weight caused the participants to step off the balance board faster than the lighter weight. These findings suggest that weight has an influence on stability and that the amount of weight affects the ability to stay balanced.
Introduction
Humans have a remarkable ability to maintain balance in a wide range of situations. This ability is especially important for activities such as walking, running, and climbing. Balance is the result of the body’s ability to shift weight from one side to the other, and the ability to adjust to the environment. However, this ability can be affected by environmental factors such as weight. It has been suggested that the weight of the body or of any object held by the body can affect balance (Kaminski et al., 2016). The aim of this experiment was to investigate the impact of weight on stability.
Method
Participants
20 healthy adults (10 males, 10 females) between the ages of 18 to 25 years old were recruited for the study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups.
Apparatus
The experiment was conducted using a balance board (Fig. 1). The board was made of wood and had a flat base. A weight (1-5kg) was held in each hand.
Procedure
The participants were asked to stand on the balance board while holding the weights. They were instructed to stand as still as possible for one minute. During this time, the participants’ stability was measured using a motion-sensing device.
Results
The results showed that the heavier the weight, the greater the instability (Fig. 2). The stability scores decreased as the weight increased. Furthermore, the heavier weight caused the participants to step off the balance board faster than the lighter weight.
Discussion
The results of this experiment suggest that weight has an influence on stability. The heavier the weight, the greater the instability and the less time the participants were able to stay balanced on the balance board. This finding is in line with previous research which has suggested that weight can affect balance (Kaminski et al., 2016).
Conclusion
The results of this experiment suggest that weight has an influence on stability and that the amount of weight affects the ability to stay balanced. This suggests that the weight of the body or of any object held by the body can affect balance.
References
Kaminski, M., Yokoyama, T., & Nakamura, Y. (2016). The effect of weight on balance. Gait & Posture, 43, 202-206.