An inverted pendulum is a classic physics problem that involves a pendulum with its mass above its pivot point, making it unstable. This setup is often used to study balance and control systems, as it requires constant adjustments to keep the pendulum upright. Inverted pendulums can be found in various applications, including robotics and control theory. They serve as a fundamental model for understanding dynamic systems and are often used in experiments to develop algorithms for maintaining stability in systems like self-balancing robots and segways.