Leaning Ladder

DCS Code: 1K10.20 Last Updated: March 27, 2026
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Purpose

A figure climbs a ladder leaning against a block, demonstrating that mass distribution — not total mass — determines stability. The system is stable with the figure at the bottom but becomes unstable as the figure moves up, shifting the center of mass and changing the torque balance.

Three-panel sequence: left — articulated figure on low rung of ladder leaning against wooden block with aluminum block on top; center — figure higher on ladder as ladder begins to slide away; right — ladder fallen, figure hanging from aluminum block atop the wooden block
Figure 1: Sequence showing the figure climbing the ladder until the system becomes unstable. In the final panel, the ladder has slid away and the figure catches on the aluminum block.
Demo Apparatus