Question

The tablecloth trick is where a tablecloth is rapidly pulled out from under some dinnerware without disturbing the dinnerware appreciably. The dinnerware does move a small amount though. Which of the following explanations is correct for this situation?

a. the force of friction from the moving tablecloth only acts for a short time
b. the force of friction from the moving tablecloth is very large.
c. The normal force from the moving tablecloth on the dinnerware becomes very small.

Answer 1

The tablecloth trick is possible because the force of friction from the moving tablecloth only acts for a short time, allowing the dinnerware to move a small amount without being disturbed appreciably.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct explanation for the tablecloth trick is that the force of friction from the moving tablecloth only acts for a short time. When the tablecloth is pulled quickly, the friction between the tablecloth and the dinnerware is reduced, allowing the dinnerware to move a small amount without being disturbed appreciably. This phenomenon can be explained using Newton's first law of motion, which states that objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the force of friction from the moving tablecloth is not strong enough to overcome the inertia of the dinnerware, resulting in only a small movement.