Newton's Law help again?

Question

To dislodge ketchup from the bottom of a ketchup bottle, the bottle is often turned upside down, thrust downward at a high speed and then abruptly halted, and I know that's got to do with Newton's First Law.

But how would I describe how it is? I don't know how to explain it.

Answer 1

Yes, you are right, it is to do with Newton's First Law (or inertia more specifically). Think of it as if you were standing on a train; as the train begins to stop you (and the other objects within the train) continue moving at the same velocity until a force is generated to dissipate that movement. If the train was to instantly stop, you would be thrown [at the same velocity] in the direction of travel. Hence why sharply jolting a ketchup bottle dislodges those deposits at the bottom.

Does that explain it well enough?

Answer 2

The ketchup in the bottle is moving at a constant velocity and will continue to do so until compelled to do otherwise by a force. The bottle stops abruptly; the only force available to cause the ketchup to decellerate is the fact that it's stuck to the bottom of the bottle. The hope is that this force is not sufficient to slow the ketchup down and the ketchup will continue to move forward to the front of the bottle.

Answer 3

The ketchup inside the bottle is moving until it has impact onto the dish.

Answer 4

how those the law of inertia apply to, to a dislodge ketchup from the bottom of a bottle it is often turned upside down and thrusted downward at high speeds and then abruptly halted

Answer 5

a body in motion stays in motion unless an equal or greater force acts on it. the force of gravity pulls the cap down until it's stopped when it hits the floor.

Answer 6

it is the law of conservation of energy...if you turn the bottle upside down, the potential energy of the ketchup will become kinetic energy.....