Identify the defining characteristic of inertial and non-inertial frames of reference. Give an example of each type of frame of reference.
Defining Characteristic? Acceleration of the frame of reference itself. Inertial frames are in constant velocity, non-inertial are changing velocity.
Each type? Going in an auto down a highway at constant velocity for inertial, for non-inertial, sitting on a merry-go-round that is spinning.
The defining characteristic of inertial and non-inertial frames of reference lies in the laws of motion. Inertial frames of reference are those in which the law of inertia holds true. This means that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. In contrast, non-inertial frames of reference are those in which the law of inertia does not hold, due to the presence of acceleration or non-zero net forces.
Let's look at an example of each type of frame of reference:
1. Inertial Frame of Reference: An example of an inertial frame of reference is a person sitting in a stationary train. From the perspective of the person inside the train, if no external forces are acting on the train, they will perceive themselves as at rest, and objects within the train will also maintain their state of motion (at rest or moving with constant velocity) unless disturbed by external forces.
2. Non-Inertial Frame of Reference: An example of a non-inertial frame of reference is a car turning around a sharp bend. As the car takes a sharp turn, the passengers inside experience a centripetal force pulling them towards the center of the turn. From the perspective of these passengers, they may feel a force pushing them towards the side of the car opposite to the direction of the turn. This apparent force, called the centrifugal force, exists only in the non-inertial frame of reference of the car due to its acceleration during the turn.
To summarize, inertial frames of reference maintain the law of inertia, while non-inertial frames of reference exhibit acceleration and may have non-zero net forces acting on objects within them.