Weighty Wonder (1 point challenge)

This one's a real science conundrum, and you'll have to think of the physics to solve it. And I'm serious when I say you're standing perfectly still. -Brian

[MarkBowenPiano]

Going to have to call you on this one. Nobody in the normal world is going to have a pair of scales that are that sensitive that they could pick up blood circulation.
I doubt even the most calibrated scales in the world would. Do you have some literature to back this up?

[johnsimos]

Your friend is stepping on the scale behind your back so that you think youve gained weight, little do they know theyre not all that good at this, therefore the oscillation

[tzisorey]

I am on a boat. Here's two tickets to that thing you like. The tickets are now diamonds!

[michaelwinter]

I’m on a train or otherwise moving surface. The scale is broken in some way. The other guy on the scale is moving. It’s an imprecise scale and the movement is a part of its tolerance. The scale works using a spring and I’m not waiting long enough. Loud music is playing, which shakes the whole system.

Edit: the answer was disappointing because “you’re holding perfectly still” usually indicates that you’re holding perfectly still.

[Scorpio]

Exactly, your heartbeat is like a tiny wave maker in your body! Even when you’re standing perfectly still, the pulsing of blood through your veins is enough to throw off the scale’s reading, which can fluctuate by about an ounce. So, at around 165 lbs, that little "sloshing" of blood actually makes the scale dance around as it tries to measure you! 0:52

[jamincirilo]

I would’ve guessed gremlins. That sounds like more fun.

[Scorpio]

The scale’s little sensors get confused because they try to read your weight very precisely, and even tiny shifts, like how your muscles or blood move, can make it wobbly. It's like when you’re holding something carefully, but your hands still tremble a bit—it doesn’t stay still. So, the scale tries to show you the number, but those tiny movements keep it guessing up and down. 0:22

[sonan]

My guess is it's your heartbeat (baby). That minor pulsing moves you.

That or you always move just a bit, uncontrollably. Similar to the reason as to why you can "talk to the dead using a ouija board", or have the pendulum swing the way you want, which was covered in an episode of The Modern Rogue.

[Epicmonk]

This is just something that happens with super precise scales sometimes. In college chemistry lab, we used to keep our scales in little acryllic boxes to help mitigate the effect air currents might have on our readings, but they would still fluctuate.

My best guess is that the voltage they received was fluctuating slightly, throwing off their measurements.

[loydwalters]

My answer was your heart beat, because you have high blood pressure, and need to see a doctor.

Didn’t expect the answer to be close to being right.

[matic]

I think my answer is more correct, I said earthquake.

[ouidaeaton]

Your engine is running and your heart is beating

[Megidramon]

The scale is on an unstable object, like a ship or a plane, thus causing the oscillation

[DragonPriem]

@24 seconds. Only thing i can think is you're on a ship at sea

[stepheninman]

You're in a moving environment (boat, RV, etc)

[gamer]

Its obvious your heartbeat causes your body to move sightly

[sandromartinez]

My guesses were between what you said and the movement of the earth having something to do with it

[SpaceStickwithSpaceTick]

The roots of the characteristic equation are not properly calibrated you need to add a compensation circuit to being the roots in the negative side of the s plane.

[vololudo]

I'm going to guess heartbeat influence. Just a wild donkey guess

[lancethrustworthy]

Two reasons - 1. The blood movement
2. You can't 'hold perfectly still'. You system won't allow it.