Does the law of inertia pertain to moving objects, objects at rest, or both? Support your answer with specific examples.
zero interia is inertia. Have you ever tried yanking a tablecloth from beneath the table setting without moving the setting? The law of inertia applied (hopefully).
The law of inertia, also known as Newton's first law of motion, pertains to both moving objects and objects at rest. It states that an object will remain in its state of motion (either at rest or moving with a constant velocity) unless acted upon by an external force.
To support this answer, let's consider examples for both scenarios:
1. Moving Objects: According to the law of inertia, a moving object will continue to move in a straight line at a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force. For instance, if you throw a ball straight up into the air, it follows a parabolic trajectory but eventually falls back down due to the force of gravity overcoming its upward inertia. In the absence of air resistance, an object in motion (like a projectile) will continue moving indefinitely in a straight line.
2. Objects at Rest: The law of inertia also applies to objects at rest. If an object is at rest, it will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. For example, imagine a book lying on a table. It will stay motionless until someone applies a force to it, such as pushing it or picking it up.
In both cases, the law of inertia explains the behavior of objects, whether they are in motion or at rest.