Consider the situations below Which of these is the best example of Newton’s first law (inertia)
An object sitting on a table and remaining still, despite the table being bumped or moved, is the best example of Newton's first law (inertia).
Newton's first law, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force.
Based on this principle, the best example of Newton's first law is as follows:
Situation: A soccer ball is kicked on a grass field. As the ball travels through the air, it gradually slows down and comes to a stop on its own.
Explanation: In this scenario, when the soccer ball is kicked, it starts moving with a certain speed and direction. According to Newton's first law, the ball would continue moving with that speed and direction indefinitely. However, external forces such as air resistance and the friction between the ball and the grass field act upon it, causing it to gradually slow down. Eventually, these forces bring the ball to a complete stop. This example demonstrates the concept of inertia as the ball's initial motion is gradually opposed and canceled out by external forces, causing it to stop.
To determine the best example of Newton's first law (inertia), let me first explain what Newton's first law states. Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest will remain 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.
Now, let's consider the situations below and assess which one aligns best with Newton's first law:
1. A car driving at a constant speed on a straight road:
In this case, the car is in motion at a constant velocity and will continue moving forward unless acted upon by an external force (such as hitting the brake or encountering some obstruction). This scenario is a good example of Newton's first law.
2. A person pushing a heavy box across a frictionless floor:
In this situation, the box will continue moving at a constant velocity in a straight line due to its inertia unless acted upon by an external force (such as friction from the floor or the person applying a force in the opposite direction). Therefore, this situation also aligns with Newton's first law.
3. A person standing still on a moving bus:
In this case, the person appears to be at rest relative to the bus since they are not moving in relation to it. However, the overall system (the person and the bus) is in motion. While the person may maintain their position on the bus, they are still subject to the bus's forces, such as acceleration, deceleration, or turns. Therefore, this situation does not represent Newton's first law as accurately as the previous examples.
Based on the explanation, the best example of Newton's first law (inertia) is the situation where a car is driving at a constant speed on a straight road.