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Lecture Demonstrations Laboratory


The Demonstrations Manual


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Measurement
Motion In One Dimension
Motion In Two Dimensions
Newton's First Law
Hit the Nail on the Head
Tablecloth Jerk
Bottle and Pencil
Motion of the Center of Mass
Hanging Masses
Water Hammer
Relativity Car
Razor Scooter
Ball Collection
Newton's Second Law
Newton's Third Law
Statics Of Rigid Bodies
Applications Of Newton's Laws
Gravity
Work and Energy
Momentum
Rotational Motion
Properties of Matter

Tablecloth Jerk

Purpose:

To give insight into Newton's Law of Inertia.

Procedure:

Place tablecloth over table with the majority hanging over one side. Set the table and fill the wine glass. Grasping the hanging cloth firmly, jerk quickly downward and away from the table. With practice this will leave the table setting untouched and the cloth off the table.

Comments:

If you have a suggestion for the use of this demo which might benefit others, you can enter it below.

Equipment:

  • Bottle of wine
  • Plate
  • Silk Tablecloth
  • Silverware
  • Small Black Table
  • Vase w/ Flowers
  • Wine Glass