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: Be sure you don't pull up on the table cloth!
REFERENCES: 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.
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