Why doesn't the glass move when I pull the tablecloth from under it?

AI Thread Summary
When a tablecloth is pulled quickly from under a glass, the glass remains in place due to inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. The forces acting on the glass during the quick pull are not sufficient to overcome this inertia, especially given the brief duration of the force applied. Additionally, the friction between the glass and the table surface helps keep the glass stationary. The discussion highlights the interplay between physics and perception in understanding this phenomenon. Ultimately, the glass stays put because the forces involved do not exert enough influence to cause significant movement.
Missyyy
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Hey guys. So I have this question about this scenario..
If I have a glass of water on a table and I quickly pull the table cloth from under the glass, the glass stays put. I can't get my head around this. What causes this?
 
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Missyyy said:
Hey guys. So I have this question about this scenario..
If I have a glass of water on a table and I quickly pull the table cloth from under the glass, the glass stays put. I can't get my head around this. What causes this?
We'll a magician never reveals his or her secrets. But Science and Magic are never in conflict, so you might want to consider what forces acts on the glass during the pulling operation, and the duration of those forces.
 
Ask about the other direction: why should the glass move (significantly)?
 

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