Which of the following statements is true about inertia?a)It is the fo...
Inertia refers to the tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of motion. It is a property of matter and is related to an object's mass.
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Which of the following statements is true about inertia?a)It is the fo...
Understanding Inertia
Inertia is a fundamental concept in physics that describes how objects behave in response to forces. It is essential for understanding motion and dynamics.
Definition of Inertia
- Inertia is defined as the tendency of an object to resist any change in its state of motion.
- This means that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.
Key Characteristics of Inertia
- Inertia is not a force; rather, it is a property of matter.
- The amount of inertia an object has is directly related to its mass:
- Heavier objects have greater inertia and require more force to change their motion.
- Lighter objects have less inertia and are easier to accelerate or decelerate.
Examples of Inertia
- When a car suddenly stops, passengers lurch forward. This happens because their bodies have the inertia to continue moving forward despite the car's stop.
- A hockey puck sliding on ice will keep moving in a straight line until friction or another force acts on it.
Conclusion
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'B': It is the tendency of an object to resist a change in its state of motion.
- Understanding inertia is crucial in the study of physics as it lays the foundation for Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.