Re: Physics Laboratory Design

[Sam Sampere <sampere@suhep.phy.syr.edu>]

I don't think it's the table that doesn't know the right force, it's the
object being dropped that doesn't know the right force.  Things like
beanbags and 'unhappy' balls know the right force though.

Sam

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Sampere
Syracuse University
Department of Physics
Syracuse (Where all the snow is NOT..), NY 13244



On Fri, 16 Oct 1998, Brian McInnes wrote:

> Dan wrote----------
>   how does a table "know" to push upwards with exactly the right force
> > to support a book and not drop it or throw it into the air. 
>
> Notice how sometimes if you drop a book on to the table, the table doesn't
> "know" exactly what the "right" force is and throws the book a little bit
> back into the air.  Perhaps it's because it hasn't had time to get
> acquainted with the book.  Its big cousin, a trampoline net, makes this sort
> of mistake all the time.
>
> Brian