When flipping a coin, why does it seem like I get heads more often?

Question

I know that it's considered a 50/50 chance I'll get heads. But, I could flip it 10 times and get heads 7/10 times, flip it another ten times, and get heads 1/10 times. It's just chance right?

Or is it? Is there such a thing as chance? Don't I get one or the other because of how hard I flick the coin and how high it goes? There is a physical reason why I get one or the other when you really get down to it.

Is it just me, or does it really seem like heads happens more often than tails? Could it have something to do with weight differences on each side of the coin?

Answer 1

It's a 50/50 chance provided that the coin tosses are fair and identical.  Your results will be approximately equal head and tail results provided that you have (1) a relatively large sample space (the more flips the better) AND (2) the method used to toss the coin MUST be the same each time.  That's hard to do when you're flipping by hand.  To eliminate errors in such an experiment, I would make it virtual (use a computer).  You can set this up using functions in Microsoft Excel for example.

Answer 2

You're just not flipping it enough times to get a correct mean/average stat. If you flipped it a thousand times, you'd start to get closer to 50/50.

Answer 3

sure its dependant on what side it starts on and how hard and in what manner you flick it, but aren't most of those factors just chance unless you are a practiced coin tosser. personally, i get tails more often.

Answer 4

Yep, just dumb luck, unless you have a two headed/tailed coin. or it is is loaded that would effect the odds too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

eh i wish i was a 50/50 chance at getting head. hahhaaha