Which marble is the oddball? Heavy or light?

[Physics-Learner]

i give you 12 marbles. 11 of them are identical. the 12th one looks the same, but is either heavier or lighter than the other 11.

you also have a balance scale. the kind that weighs things on both sides - and if one side is heavier, it tilts down.

you are allowed only 3 weighings.

tell me which ball is the oddball, and whether it is heavy or light.

 

[out of whack]

This was just posted one or two months ago. In fact, a search for "balance" in the Brain Teasers forum shows that it is posted quite frequently. I wonder what it is about this particular puzzle that makes it so popular.

 

[Physics-Learner]

sorry about that. i did look thru the first page for marbles, and did not see anything. i didnt look more closely at the rest of the wording.

to answer your question - it took me a long time to figure it out. it has been one of the best puzzles that i have worked on for a long time.

 

[Physics-Learner]

i was just about to post the one about crossing the river with cannibals, but i find that this has also been posted. it only took me an hour or so to figure that one out. i found the marble one much more difficult.