Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)

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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.





Test Your Knowledge

Select the correct option


1. What is another name for Newton's First Law of Motion?

Law of Motion

Law of Momentum

Law of Inertia

Law of Conservation

2. Define Newton’s First Law of Motion.

An object in motion will eventually stop.

An object will change its state of motion unless a force is applied.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

3. What is inertia?

The force required to stop an object.

The ability of an object to move faster.

The property of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

The speed of an object due to gravitational effects.

4. How does inertia relate to mass?

The greater the mass, the greater the inertia.

Lighter objects have more inertia.

Mass does not affect inertia.

Mass and inertia are inversely proportional.

5. Give an example of Newton's First Law in everyday life.

A running tap flowing water.

A book resting on a table until pushed.

A bird flying in the sky.

A car accelerating quickly.

6. Explain how seat belts in cars relate to the law of inertia.

Seat belts provide the force needed to stop passengers’ inertia in a sudden stop.

Seat belts increase the speed of the passengers.

Seat belts function as an energy absorber.

Seat belts help to increase the inertia of the car.

7. What happens to a moving object if no external force acts on it?

It will gradually stop due to its own inertia.

It will continue to move in a straight line at a constant speed.

It will move in a circular path.

It will accelerate indefinitely.

8. How does friction relate to Newton's First Law?

Friction is an external force that can stop or slow down moving objects.

Friction does not affect moving objects.

Friction increases the object's velocity.

Friction only acts on objects at rest.

9. Why does a soccer ball eventually stop rolling on the grass?

The wind increases to counteract the motion.

Friction between the ball and the grass slows it down.

The ball runs out of kinetic energy.

Gravity pulls the ball to a stop.

10. Can an object have inertia if it is in motion?

No, only stationary objects have inertia.

Only objects in space have inertia.

Yes, it will continue its motion unless acted upon by an external force.

Inertia exists only for objects moving at constant velocity.

11. Why don't satellites fall back to Earth due to inertia?

They are in freefall with forward velocity keeping them in orbit.

Satellites have no inertia.

Earth's gravitational pull pushes them away.

There is no gravity in space.

12. What would happen to a hockey puck sliding on ice if friction did not exist?

It would continue sliding indefinitely without stopping.

It would slow down rapidly.

It would immediately stop.

It would slide in a circular path.

13. How does mass affect the force needed to change an object's motion?

Mass has no effect on the force required.

Less massive objects require more force.

More massive objects require a greater force.

All objects require the same force regardless of mass.

14. What external forces typically act on objects on Earth?

Gravity, friction, and applied forces.

Only gravity.

Only wind and water forces.

Electromagnetic forces only.

15. Is inertia only applicable to objects in motion?

Yes, only moving objects have inertia.

No, it applies to objects at rest as well.

Only objects in fast motion experience inertia.

Inertia requires an object to be stationary.