PURPOSE: To dramatically demonstrate inertia of rest.
DESCRIPTION: The table setting rests on a silk tablecloth. Rapidly yanking the tablecloth out from under the setting pieces leaves the table setting unchanged.
SUGGESTIONS:
REFERENCES: (PIRA 1F20.30) Some people claim that the usual explanation of this experiment is oversimplified. See Demonstration Reference File for papers presenting a more thorough discussion.
EQUIPMENT: Tablecloth with table setting, as photographed.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
 |  |
 |  |  |