Sunday, February 24, 2013

Home Science: Tablecloth Trick


Home Science

Experiment: Magician’s Tablecloth Trick

Concept: Object’s stay at rest unless a strong enough force acts on the object (from Newton’s 1st Law of Motion)

Materials: Plastic bowl, piece of material, or cloth without sewn edges.

Procedure: Hang the material off the edge of the table a few inches.  Put the plastic bowl on the cloth.  Pull DOWN (not sideways) quickly.  Be amazed!

Above and Beyond:  Although there is friction between the tablecloth and the bowl, it is not enough to move the object sideways (if you are fast and pull down), thus the bowl stays at rest!  Try this with a cup, bowl and maybe a spoon, but ask your parents first.

Watch one of my favorite scientists do this trick!


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