Science Puzzler how does one bend a metal coat hanger so as to stand it on its point?

Answer 1

This will be a little tricky to describe without pictures. Straighten the wire out, and then twist one end reasonably tightly, for maybe half to three quarters of its length. Take the remaining end and bend it into a curving hook shape, with the point pointing down toward the center of the twist. If you put it on a table, you would basically have a twist or jumble of wire, and a broad "handle" or hook coming up and ending with the tip pointing down toward the center of the twist. Go to a shelf or table and place the pointing tip of the wire on the edge, with the twist hanging below. The "handle" will bow outward, over the edge of the table and the center of the twist will be roughly directly under the point. The whole thing should hang freely, with only the tip touching the surface of the table. This will happen because the center of gravity of the twist will suspend right under the touching point on the table. The effect of the twist, with its center of gravity, will cause the bowed hook to curve right over the table edge without touching. The whole thing should hang freely, suspended only by the point on the table's surface.