You lay a stick across the table, letting one-third of it project over
the edge; and you undertake to hang a pail of water on it, without
either fastening the stick on the table, or letting the pail rest on
any support; and this feat, the laws of gravitation will enable you
literally to accomplish.
[Illustration]
You take the pail of water, and hang it by the handle upon the
projecting end of the stick, in such a manner that the handle may rest
on it in an inclined position, with the middle of the pail within
the edge of the table. That it may be fixed in this situation, place
another stick with one of its ends resting against the side at the
bottom of the pail, and its other end against the first stick, where
there should be a notch to retain it. By these means, the pail will
remain fixed in that situation, without being able to incline to either
side; nor can the stick slide along the table, or move along its edge,
without raising the centre of gravity of the pail, and the water it
contains.