Motion Monday: Stacking Instability | The Physics of Jenga

Hello Everyone, Welcome back to Motion Monday 👋

Sorry I’m a bit late… that Jenga game took longer than expected.

Jenga is a great example of how stability isn’t just about balance—it’s about geometry and load paths.
With every block removed, the structure quietly shifts toward instability.
In this setup, the focus is on how removing blocks changes the center of mass of the tower.
When blocks are taken from one side, the mass distribution becomes uneven, creating a tipping moment about the base.
 

As long as the projected center of mass stays within the base area, the tower stands. The moment it crosses that boundary—the system loses equilibrium and collapses.
 

To Play with the motion yourself you can download SOLIDWORKS file from below.
 

3DPlay Model Model Zip

Edu MotionMonday