- #1
OmicronPersei8
Hi everyone, first time post here. Sorry if this isn't the place to ask, but I'm looking to settle disagreement and thought someone here might have the knowledge to set me straight. This is a slightly off color question to start with, and my lack of expertise in any science is not helping the way I phrase anything I'm sure, so sorry in advance.
So every week a friend and I play in a flip cup tournament. (Played with water, small gift certificate if you win, just a nice way to break up the week)
For anyone unfamiliar, flip cup is a game where you take plastic cups place them right side up, hanging slightly over the edge of a table or other playing surface. The goal is to get the cup to rest upside down on the table by applying force to the bottom of the cup that is hanging over the edge of the table. (Most instances of the game involve you drinking something out of the cup first, but that's not really pertinent here) Here's a 1min video that explains the concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knJ-gXK2bgs
Anyway, it's my position that having a small puddle of water on the table is beneficial to getting the cup to come to rest upside down. Her position is that it doesn't help, and that it's gross. I am unable to offer any concrete reasoning and my gut/perceived success using water is not sufficient for me to press for playing on a wet table. (It is a little gross) I do however firmly believe that a small puddle of water in the area where your cup begins to land upside down is in fact a benefit, and would help our chances in getting some free food for the night via the gift certificate winnings. I just lack the educational background or applicable knowledge to prove it. (or disprove as the case may very well be)
So here is my basic thinking, if anyone here is willing to take the time to point me in the right direction or do anything to help I would greatly appreciate it. It really seems that having a shallow "coat" of water on the playing surface where you are attempting to land your cup upside down is beneficial. It sure seems like it helps, and while I have theories as to why, its obvious we need some outside expertise for a definitive answer. My perception is that one or more of a few possibilities are at play here and might explain my apparent success in having water on the table. Or I'm completely wrong.
1) The water helps stabilize the cup faster. I'm not sure how, but it could, right? Perhaps the water's viscosity slows the cups lateral movement enough that gravity takes care of the rest in a situation where it otherwise may have continued to slide over the edge of the table or simply toppled over?
2) Since it's the open end of the cup landing in the water, is at all possible that water, rim and air movement combine to form suction or some kind of stabilizing force on the cup that would not otherwise be present?
I realize this is probably silly to many of you, and I'm not trying to be impertinent in posting this, I assure you I'm asking sincerely. I doubt I'll be allowed to let the puddles to form regardless :P but at this point its about satisfying my curiosity, whether my perception has any validity to it or not, more than it is about winning flip cup. (Although it would be nice)
So every week a friend and I play in a flip cup tournament. (Played with water, small gift certificate if you win, just a nice way to break up the week)
For anyone unfamiliar, flip cup is a game where you take plastic cups place them right side up, hanging slightly over the edge of a table or other playing surface. The goal is to get the cup to rest upside down on the table by applying force to the bottom of the cup that is hanging over the edge of the table. (Most instances of the game involve you drinking something out of the cup first, but that's not really pertinent here) Here's a 1min video that explains the concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knJ-gXK2bgs
Anyway, it's my position that having a small puddle of water on the table is beneficial to getting the cup to come to rest upside down. Her position is that it doesn't help, and that it's gross. I am unable to offer any concrete reasoning and my gut/perceived success using water is not sufficient for me to press for playing on a wet table. (It is a little gross) I do however firmly believe that a small puddle of water in the area where your cup begins to land upside down is in fact a benefit, and would help our chances in getting some free food for the night via the gift certificate winnings. I just lack the educational background or applicable knowledge to prove it. (or disprove as the case may very well be)
So here is my basic thinking, if anyone here is willing to take the time to point me in the right direction or do anything to help I would greatly appreciate it. It really seems that having a shallow "coat" of water on the playing surface where you are attempting to land your cup upside down is beneficial. It sure seems like it helps, and while I have theories as to why, its obvious we need some outside expertise for a definitive answer. My perception is that one or more of a few possibilities are at play here and might explain my apparent success in having water on the table. Or I'm completely wrong.
1) The water helps stabilize the cup faster. I'm not sure how, but it could, right? Perhaps the water's viscosity slows the cups lateral movement enough that gravity takes care of the rest in a situation where it otherwise may have continued to slide over the edge of the table or simply toppled over?
2) Since it's the open end of the cup landing in the water, is at all possible that water, rim and air movement combine to form suction or some kind of stabilizing force on the cup that would not otherwise be present?
I realize this is probably silly to many of you, and I'm not trying to be impertinent in posting this, I assure you I'm asking sincerely. I doubt I'll be allowed to let the puddles to form regardless :P but at this point its about satisfying my curiosity, whether my perception has any validity to it or not, more than it is about winning flip cup. (Although it would be nice)