Question

a performer pulls a tablecloth out from under a complete set of dinnerware as shown in the illustration below. which of the following best explains the performer’s success at leaving all the dinnerware on the table
the inertia of the dinnerware.
the large mass of the tablecloth.
the placement of the dinnerware.
the rough material of the tablecloth.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• "The inertia of the dinnerware": Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. The dinnerware, initially at rest, tends to stay at rest when the tablecloth is pulled quickly (minimizing friction - induced motion), so this explains the success.
• "The large mass of the tablecloth": A large - mass tablecloth would not help keep the dinnerware in place; in fact, more mass might make the pull more forceful on the dinnerware, so this is incorrect.
• "The placement of the dinnerware": The placement does not inherently explain why the dinnerware stays when the tablecloth is pulled. Any placement would be affected similarly by the pull without inertia, so this is incorrect.
• "The rough material of the tablecloth": A rough tablecloth would increase friction, making it more likely for the dinnerware to move with the tablecloth, which is the opposite of what we want, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

The inertia of the dinnerware.