Flashcards on Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)
What is another name for Newton's First Law of Motion?
Newton's First Law is also known as the Law of Inertia.
Define Newton’s First Law of Motion.
It states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.
What is inertia?
Inertia is the property of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
How does inertia relate to mass?
The greater the mass of an object, the greater its inertia, meaning more force is required to change its motion.
Give an example of Newton's First Law in everyday life.
A book resting on a table stays at rest until a force (like a push) is applied to it.
Explain how seat belts in cars relate to the law of inertia.
Seat belts help to provide the external force needed to stop passengers’ inertia from moving them forward in the event of a sudden stop.
What happens to a moving object if no external force acts on it?
It will continue to move in a straight line at a constant speed.
How does friction relate to Newton's First Law?
Friction is an external force that can stop or slow down moving objects.
Why does a soccer ball eventually stop rolling on the grass?
The friction between the soccer ball and the grass acts as an external force to slow it down.
Can an object have inertia if it is in motion?
Yes, an object in motion has inertia and will continue its motion unless acted upon by an external force.
Why don't satellites fall back to Earth due to inertia?
They are in a state of freefall with a forward velocity that keeps them in orbit around Earth.
What would happen to a hockey puck sliding on ice if friction did not exist?
It would continue sliding at a constant speed indefinitely without coming to a stop.
How does mass affect the force needed to change an object's motion?
More massive objects require a greater force to change their motion.
What external forces typically act on objects on Earth?
Gravity, friction, and applied forces like pushes or pulls.
Is inertia only applicable to objects in motion?
No, inertia applies to objects at rest as well, resisting changes to their state of motion.