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A cup of coffee is sitting on a table in a recreational vehicle (RV).?

A cup of coffee is sitting on a table in a recreational vehicle (RV). The cup slides toward the rear of the RV. According to Newton’s first law, which one or more of the following statements could describe the motion of the RV? (A) The RV is at rest, and the driver suddenly accelerates. (B) The RV is moving forward, and the driver suddenly accelerates. (C) The RV is moving backward, and the driver suddenly hits the brakes.
Answers :
1. (A)
2. (B)
3.(C)
4. (A) AND (B)
5. (A), (B) AND (C)

Public Comments

1. the answer is 5; all the situations are equivalent in the sense that the acceleration vector is pointing in the same forward direction (if you are backing and hit the brakes, the ground has to exert a force, and therefore acceleration, forward on the car)

2. A and B

3. the answer is 5

4. answer is (5) coz in all motions the cup does inertia which makes it slide to rear
in A B C it inertiates to resist motion and slides

5. The answer is 5. Here's why according to the First Law of Motion an object stays in motion or at rest unless compelled to change. In each scenario is something compelled to change?

a) Yes the driver suddenly accelerates (from rest -> moving)
b) Yes the driver accelerates from a moving position (moving -> moving)
c) Moving and stoping

All of these show that these is a change in position, and because the RV is stopping or speeding up there are forces acting on the cup. The cup is moving for inertial reasons. If it was a cow it wouldn't move so much