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	Sky Hook

See the Science Chapter for more instructions, hints, tips, and ideas.

My dad made one of these years ago for me and I still have it. It has always intrigued me because it just doesn't look like it should work.

Cut it out of wood and sand the edges smooth. The angled slot is key to making it work. The trick to making it balance is to use a still leather belt about an inch and a half or so wide. Push the belt into the slot with equal amounts of weight on each side of the hook (to compensate for the buckle weight). Now balance the base of the hook on your finger or a table or your nose.

The reason it works is that the angle of the slot in the hook causes the stiff belt to hang out past the base of the hook. The center of gravity is near the base end of the hook. The point of the center of gravity must be supported or it will fall. Just like you would if you leaned forward or backwards too far.

The sky hook won't work with a limp rope because the rope hangs straight down and the center of gravity is under the hook, which isn't supported.

I haven't figured out how to make a neckerchief slide out of this yet, but I am still working on it!