A sheet of paper can be withdrawn from under a container of milk without toppling it if the paper is jerked quickly. this best demonstrates that:
a) the carton of milk has no acceleration
b) there is an action-reaction pair of forces
c) gravity tends to hold the milk carton secure
d) the milk carton has inertia
the milk carton has inertia
The best way to answer this question is by applying Newton's laws of motion.
When the paper is jerked quickly, the container of milk remains in place without toppling over. Let's analyze the options:
a) The carton of milk has no acceleration: This option can be immediately ruled out because when the paper is jerked quickly, there is a force acting on the milk carton, which causes it to accelerate momentarily.
b) There is an action-reaction pair of forces: This option refers to Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the paper is jerked, the action force is applied on the paper, and according to Newton's third law, there must be a reaction force exerted by the milk carton. This force prevents the carton from tipping over.
c) Gravity tends to hold the milk carton secure: While gravity does play a role in keeping the milk carton upright, it is not the primary factor in this demonstration. It is more related to the reaction force mentioned in option b.
d) The milk carton has inertia: Inertia is the property of an object to resist changes in its motion. The fact that the milk carton remains in place when the paper is jerked demonstrates its inertia. This is the correct option.
Therefore, the answer is d) the milk carton has inertia.
d) the milk carton has inertia
When the paper is jerked quickly, it creates a fast acceleration. According to Newton's first law of motion, objects tend to stay at rest or in uniform motion, unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the milk carton resists the sudden change in its state of motion due to its inertia. The inertia of the milk carton allows the paper to be withdrawn without toppling the carton, as its motion tends to remain unchanged.