According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object in motion will stay in at the same speed and direction unless acted upon
by what kind of force? (1 point)
a net force
a balanced force
inertia
an unbalanced force
an unbalanced force
According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object in motion will stay at the same speed and direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
According to Newton's First Law of Motion, an object in motion will remain at the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. The answer to this question is "an unbalanced force."
To arrive at this answer, we can break down the options given:
- A net force is the overall force acting on an object, which can be the sum of multiple forces exerted on it. However, the presence of a net force does not necessarily indicate a change in motion. So, while a net force is required for any change in motion, it does not specifically pertain to Newton's First Law.
- A balanced force, on the other hand, occurs when multiple forces acting on an object cancel each other out. In this scenario, the object may be at rest or moving at a constant velocity, but there is no net force causing a change in motion. Therefore, this choice is not the correct answer for this question.
- Inertia is the inherent property of an object that resists changes in its motion. It is relevant to Newton's First Law, as it implies that an object will remain in motion or at rest unless acted upon by an external force. However, inertia itself is not the specific type of force mentioned in the question.
- Finally, an unbalanced force is a force that is not counteracted by an equal and opposite force, creating a net force that causes a change in motion. According to Newton's First Law, this is the kind of force needed to alter the object's speed or direction. So, "an unbalanced force" is the correct answer to the question.
Remember, to answer questions like these, it is crucial to understand the concepts and principles underlying the question rather than simply memorizing definitions.