Blog 4: Table Cloth Trick

After a few tries, I finally got it!

The table cloth trick eluded me for a while, I must admit. I puzzled over it for a long time. The plate was large and heavy - lots of mass, lots of inertia - and the fork and knife had some weight as well. The plastic wine glass kept tumbling over, and I replaced it with a plastic cup with a larger base (more stability), but the place setting just wouldn't remain at rest!

Why, Physics God? Why?

A few minutes later, I realized suddenly that the "table cloth" I was using was both too long and too thick. My pull force was being transferred to the dinner objects in too large of an amount and for too long of a time (the time for the cloth to be fully pulled from underneath), and the objects had a farther distance to travel before coming to rest on the table - more time for them to tumble over or slide off.

I replaced the failing cloth with a smaller, thinner cloth. Then...

FINALLY, SUCCESS (However small and poorly done)

My father got the trick down in one try. Maybe it was because he already knew about physics...

Pictured: Cheater

Blog 3: Long Jump

     In a lab, we were asked to consider the motion of a long jumper in terms of x- and y- velocities. We were asked, "Which is most important?" I had a difficult time answering this question because according to my coaches, both velocities are important in getting the farthest distance. Vx is obviously important since the point of the event is to travel in the x-plane, but Vy is equally important because Vy affects the time a projectile remains in the air, and the long jumper also wants to remain in the air for as long as possible. 

Long Jumpers Unite (no triple jumpers allowed)
(my action shots weren't loading for some reason)

Mr. Big Vy (and Vx): Mike Powell