A cork floats in an inverted jar sitting on a cart, as shown in the left diagram below. If we suddenly accelerate the cart to the right (as shown in the right diagram) what will the cork do:
A) Lean backward
B) Remain vertically floating directly above the base
C) Lean forward
D) Sink
E) Explode

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the cart accelerates to the right, the water inside will be pushed to the back of the jar due to inertia. This creates a slope in the water's surface, higher at the back and lower at the front. The cork, floating on the water, will lean forward towards the lower part of the slope, aligning with the water's surface.

A Cork Floats in an Inverted Jar Sitting on a Cart