Inertia

Peter Insley                   Retired
                           
Objectives:

Inertia
     1.  Playing card and nickel
          Balance a playing card with a nickel on your index finger.  Then with 
          your other hand, try to flick the card out from under the nickel so 
          that the card flies out but the nickel stays on your finger. 

     2.  Tablecloth
          Pull the tablecloth out from under a set of dishes.  Fill the cups 
          and glasses with water first.

     3.  Blocks and glass
          Put a full glass of water on a stack of 6 3"x3"x1" blocks and use a 
          support pole to knock out the bottom blocks.

     4.  Stack of nickels
          You can knock the nickels out of the bottom of a stack with a credit 
          card.

General Conclusion:

The more weight an object has, the less it moves if you exert the force quickly.

     5.  Weight and string
          Use thread to suspend a 400g weight and tie another thread below.  If 
          you pull fast the lower thread breaks, and if you pull slow the upper 
          thread breaks. 

     6.  Barbie and Ken
          Barbie uses her seat belt and Ken doesn't, so Ken shoots out of the 
          car.

Test:

Put a clothes pin on an embroidery hoop and balance it on a wide mouth bottle.  
Ask what will happen if you jerk the hoop out.  Explain using the idea of 
inertia.