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. Click your mouse on the picture above to see an mpeg video of the action.

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.