Mary Pushes Horizontally on a Large, Heavy Table, Which Is

question 1

Multiple Choice

Mary pushes horizontally on a large, heavy table, which is standing alone in the middle of a room, and notes that the table does not move despite the fact that she is pushing on it (see the figure) . Why doesn't the table move?

• A) The table had so much mass that its inertia kept it from moving.
• B) Although it is true that forces cause accelerations, they do not cause velocities; therefore, the table acquired no velocity.
• C) Newton's law of force pairs says that there is an opposite "reaction force" by the table against the instructor's hand, and this reaction force keeps the table from moving.
• D) Frictional forces by the floor on the table legs acted in the opposite direction to produce a net force of zero.
• E) According to Newton's meaning of the word "force," the horizontal push against the table was not really a force.

---

Definitions:

Opportunity Cost

The expense incurred by not selecting the second-best option when deciding among various choices.

Willingness to Pay

The maximum amount an individual is prepared to expend on a good or service to procure it.

Producer Surplus

The difference between the amount producers are willing to sell a good for and the amount they actually receive.

Tax Revenue

The tax revenue that governments obtain.