Bruce wants to get ketchup out of a bottle. In order to do this, he brings the bottle forward quickly and then suddenly stops it. Why is this likely to help get the ketchup out of the bottle, according to Newton's first law?
A. The ketchup will tend to remain at rest, and the bottle will move backwards.
B. The bottle and ketchup tend to remain at rest, and if Bruce moves them it causes ketchup to come out.
C. The bottle tends to remain in motion, and when Bruce stops it the force transfers through the bottle to the ketchup.
D. The ketchup will tend to remain in motion after the bottle stops, bringing the ketchup closer to the mouth of the bottle.

Question

Bruce wants to get ketchup out of a bottle. In order to do this, he brings the bottle forward quickly and then suddenly stops it. Why is this likely to help get the ketchup out of the bottle, according to Newton's first law?
 A. The ketchup will tend to remain at rest, and the bottle will move backwards.
 B. The bottle and ketchup tend to remain at rest, and if Bruce moves them it causes ketchup to come out.
 C. The bottle tends to remain in motion, and when Bruce stops it the force transfers through the bottle to the ketchup. 
 D. The ketchup will tend to remain in motion after the bottle stops, bringing the ketchup closer to the mouth of the bottle.

Shadow · Answer

What do you think the answer is?

Mal87 · Answer

I think the answer is D

Shadow · Answer

Correct. Inertia is an objects tendency to remain in it's state of motion (whether it be still, or moving). In this case, the bottle of ketchup is stopped, but the ketchup itself stays in motion.