Chapter 3, Problem 32A

In an orbiting spacecraft, you are handed two identical closed boxes, one filled with sand and the other filled with feathers. How can you tell which is which without opening the boxes?

To determine

The way in which it can be determined that which box contains sand and which contains feathers.

Answer to Problem 32A

By trying to shake it .

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The more the mass of an object, the more will be its inertia and then more force will be needed to change its state of rest or motion.

Now, when both the boxes filled with sand and feathers are shaken with a force, then the box with more mass, that is with sand, will require more force on account of more inertia.

Conclusion:

Hence, by trying to shake both the boxes, the box that contains sand and the one that contains feathers can be determined.