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Why, when you rotate a glass of liquid with ice cubes in it, does the ice not rotate with the cup?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Jan 21, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Inertia. Everything in the universe is trying to carry on the way it is – moving or stationary. When you push yourself across the floor on your office chair (don't pretend you don't) when you stop pushing, you carry on.

71
Words

1 min
Read Time

#222
of 500 in Science

-1%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Inertia. Everything in the universe is trying to carry on the way it is – moving or stationary. When you push yourself across the floor on your office chair (don't pretend you don't) when you stop pushing, you carry on. When you push the glass round, the ice wants to stay still. There's very little friction between the cup and the ice – so there's not much force pushing it round.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Carry, push, don't

This explanation focuses on carry, push, don't and spans 71 words across 5 sentences. The depth is typical for Science questions (category average: 72 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Inertia.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Science

Ranked #222 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 45%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why why, when you rotate a glass of liquid with ice cubes in it, does the ice not rotate with the cup?

Inertia. Everything in the universe is trying to carry on the way it is – moving or stationary. When you push yourself across the floor on your office chair (don't pretend you don't) when you stop pushing, you carry on. When you push the glass…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?

This is an above-average answer at 71 words, ranked #222 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are carry, push, don't.

What approach does this answer take to explain why, when you rotate a glass of liquid with ice cubes in it,?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 71 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.