Do you want to defeat the laws of physics - or at least make others believe that you managed to do it? You just need some cutlery and a minimum of imagination. With these tools, it's easy to make cutlery appear to be floating in space on a glass.
Steps
Step 1. Get a large glass beaker
Especially those with wide openings and tapered bases work.
Step 2. Fill the glass at least halfway
Remember that the total weight of the silverware will be supported by a single point on the outer edge of the glass. Keep this in mind and make sure the base of the glass is stable enough to hold the weight.
Step 3. Fit the fork into the spoon
Insert the two outer teeth of the fork into the back of the spoon. Once connected, the cutlery should form a kind of boomerang.
Step 4. Take a match or toothpick, and stick it between the center teeth of the fork
Make sure it's still in contact with the spoon. Leave the match as much as possible in the center of the "boomerang".
Step 5. Put the frame in place
Take the entire kit and (here's the tricky part) balance the match on the edge of the glass with the two ends facing the glass behind. Note that the match will be horizontal.
Step 6. Find the balance
It may take a while to figure out where to place the match. Try moving it from one side to the other, but also closer and further away from the glass, to find the most suitable point.
Step 7. Consider lighting the ends of the match after finding the balance (optional)
Then get comfortable and collect your bets. The reason people think it's levitating is because they see it in relation to the whole glass, rather than just the rim. They are, technically, self-deceiving.
Advice
- The hardest part of the trick is getting the right balance. Certain types of forks and spoons won't help, so try all the silverware you have at home, or in a restaurant you visit often.
- A square match is better than a curved one for this trick, since the curved one tends to roll a lot in the search for balance.
- An alternative technique involves the use of 2 forks and a medium-sized coin between the central teeth of the forks, while they are in contact and in some sort of balance.
- Another technique: create the fork-spoon "boomerang" with a match, as before. Insert another match vertically on a heavy salt shaker. Place one match on top of the other. If you're lucky, the center of gravity will allow you to balance the matches at right angles (or close to it). It takes a little patience.
- You can light both ends of the match, when everything is in balance, and they will burn until they meet the glass and cutlery; this will really make you believe it is in mid-air.
- Make sure the person is looking at everything from the right, otherwise they will find out how it works.
Warnings
- Do not light the match near an alcoholic drink.
- If you decide to light the match, be careful to burn only the ends, not the middle, of course. It is better to have a large part of the match on hand.
