How to you do pull a tablecloth off a table without breaking all the plates and glasses?
Chief Scientist Carl Nelson explains the science behind this demonstration. The key is to pull the cloth quickly. As you pull the tablecloth there will always be a frictional force acting between the moving tablecloth and the items resting on top. The key is to minimize the amount of time this force acts. If you pull slowly, the items on top will move along with the tablecloth and possibly fall over. A quick pull minimizes the amount of time this frictional force acts on the items and they remain nearly motionless.
