Debunking Equinox Myths: Balancing Silver Dollars and Eggs on the Vernal Equinox

[Philosophaie]

The Vernal Equinox is coming up on Mar 20,2011 at 11:21PM. There is an old fable that says you can balance a silver dollar on its edge at the equator on the equinox. I know this is obviously not true due to the Moon's gravity and the Barycenter. Could we discuss the validity of this fable.

 

[davenn]

and why do you think that you can't balance it on its edge at any latitude and at any time of the year ?

nothing that has ever stopped me from doing it :)

Dave

 

[Vanadium 50]

Of course you can balance a silver dollar on its edge at the equator on the equinox. You can also balance a silver dollar on its edge on the 4th of July in Buffalo, New York.

 

[Philosophaie]

Alright how about a balancing a top that is not spinning in a perfect scenario with only a star and one planet revolving around it in an elliptical orbit with no moon with an Axial Tilt.

 

[tiny-tim]

Alright how about a balancing a top that is not spinning in a perfect scenario with only a star and one planet revolving around it in an elliptical orbit with no moon with an Axial Tilt.

worst holiday i ever had

 

[FtlIsAwesome]

I've also heard the idea that the equinox is the only day where you can balance an egg on its small end. If you think about it,that doesn't make any sense. You can balance an egg any day, though tricky.