Question

1. at dinner, hans passed the salt shaker to his sister jessica by sliding it across the wooden table. the salt shaker gradually slowed down and stopped after moving 12 centimeters. why did the salt shaker stop moving?

a the salt shaker ran out of force.
b the table exerts a force that is opposite to the salt shakers motion.
c the table absorbs force from the salt shaker.
d all objects stop moving because their natural state is to be still.

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze option a

Objects don't stop moving because they run out of force. Force is an external interaction, not something an object "has" and can run out of.

Step2: Analyze option c

It's not that the table absorbs force from the salt shaker. The concept of force absorption in this way is not in line with the laws of motion.

Step3: Analyze option d

The idea that all objects' natural state is to be still is incorrect. Objects have inertia, and their state of motion (or rest) depends on the forces acting on them.

Step4: Analyze option b

According to Newton's first law, when an object is in motion, if there is a force acting opposite to its motion (like friction between the salt shaker and the table), it will slow down and stop. The table (due to friction) exerts a force opposite to the salt shaker's motion.

Answer:

B. The table exerts a force that is opposite to the salt shaker’s motion.