Why does stretching your arms out make it easier to balance?

Question

Why does stretching your arms out make it easier to balance?

Answer 1

It changes the angle of the force over your center of mass.  Rather than a 90 degree angle (force of gravity in a line down through your center of mass), putting out your arms changes the angle of some of that force, making it less effort to correct if you should loose your balance.  

...I hope that makes sense...it's been a long time since I took physics...perhaps a physicist could explain it better.  

Answer 2

to be honest, i don't know, but i will try to make an educated guess

When you place your arms out, you change where your weight is adjusted on your body.  Imagine it like this in a sense.  You try to pick up a piece of wood that is 8 foot long.  You can't pick it up from either one of the ends, but you can easily pick it up from the center of the wood.  

So by placing your arms out, you sort of make yourself like a piece of wood.  You can change how your weight is distributed easily by moving one arm higher or lower than the other arm while you are trying to balance.  Your body starts to lean one way, and both your arms will react, one goes higher while the other goes lower to balance your weight.  Its as if it makes different parts of your body weigh more or less to support yourself