Seesaw Kitchen
The lantern firefly explains balance with a kitchen scale, and why a balanced garage door feels light.
Listen to this lesson
Read aloud by The lantern firefly.
The Dessert Idea
A kitchen scale balances when both sides weigh the same.
The Door Idea
A garage door is balanced when its springs hold its weight, so it stays put when lifted halfway.
The Lesson
Oh! Hi. This one is about balance. On a seesaw, two kids who weigh the same keep it level. A kitchen scale does that with flour or sugar. A garage door is very heavy, but its springs hold up almost all of the weight, so a balanced door feels light and stays where you leave it. A tech checks that with a careful test. If a door slams down or shoots up, it is out of balance, and that is a job for a pro.
Told by The lantern firefly
Be Safe
Only a grown-up checks a door's balance, and springs and cables are never for kids or do-it-yourself.
Try It With a Grown-Up
Balance a ruler on a pencil. Put one marshmallow on each end, then a pair on one side. What do you do to make it level again?
Keep Exploring
This button opens another site, about how real garage doors work. Ask a grown-up first.
Learn more about real garage doors