Balance game: find the balance point
Where does it sit level? Balance It is a free balance game for your eye. Slide a support under a hammer, a mouse or a crescent moon, lock it in, and let go. If the support is under the balance point, the object holds. If not, it tips toward its heavier side.
A game is five objects, each worth up to 100 points, for 500 in a game. Press Play again for a fresh five, or come back for the daily puzzle.
How to play Balance It
- Look at the whole shape. Every object is a flat silhouette, so only its outline counts.
- Move the support. Tap or drag anywhere on the play area. The triangle slides along the ground while the shape stays resting on its tip.
- Lock it in. Press the check button and let go. The shape tips or holds. Your support stays in place, and a gold dot and dashed line show how its weight acts after it settles.
- Finish five objects. Build your total, then share it or challenge a friend on the same five.
On a keyboard, focus the play area: Left and Right move the stand, Shift moves it further, and Enter locks it in. You never need to hold and drag.
Scoring: how far off was the stand?
The miss is measured while the cutout is level, along the object as a share of its full length. Within about 1.5% the object sits dead level and earns 100 points. Points then fall steadily, and a miss of 17% or more scores zero.
| Miss, share of length | Points |
|---|---|
| 1% | 100 |
| 3% | 87 |
| 5% | 71 |
| 8% | 48 |
| 12% | 22 |
| 17% | 0 |
A small miss still holds: the object wobbles and settles. Beyond that it tips toward the side where the balance point lies. Where the object reaches the ground, it lands with a bounce. The gold dot marks its centre of mass; the dashed line shows where its weight acts straight down in the settled pose. The recap shows each cutout level for comparison.
Where the balance point hides
Each shape is a flat, uniform cutout. It balances where the area on each side pulls equally, taking its distance from the stand into account. The middle of its length is almost never the answer: the bigger end pulls the balance point toward it.
A lollipop’s round candy outweighs its long, thin stick, so it balances close to the candy. A tennis racket balances near its head, a hammer partway down the handle. Long thin parts still count: the further out they reach, the more they pull.
Holes are empty. The open middle of a racket or a magnifying glass adds nothing, which moves the balance point back toward the handle.
Tips for a level balance
- Start from the middle of the length, then move toward whichever end has more area.
- Long thin parts still pull on the stand. Look at the whole shape, not just its biggest end.
- Watch which way it tips. It always falls toward the balance point, so that is the way to move next time.
Questions about Balance It
What is the balance point?
It is the centre of mass: the single point where the object’s weight is evenly spread on every side. A stand directly under it holds the object level.
Are the objects made of different materials?
No. Every object is a flat silhouette of even thickness, as if cut from one sheet, so it balances at the centre of its area. What you see is all there is to judge.
Is there a daily puzzle?
Yes. Today’s puzzle is the same five objects for everyone, new at local midnight, with a streak if you come back. Ordinary play stays unlimited.
Can I challenge a friend?
After five objects, Challenge copies your score, five spoiler-free squares and a link. Your friend gets the same objects, facing the same way, with your score to beat.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It is free to play in your browser, with no account or download. You can use a mouse, touch or keyboard.
More games about shape and size
Try splitting shapes evenly in Cut in Half, or weighing objects against each other in Guess the Weight.