6.1.2 Gravity & Inertia

Front

What is inertia?

Back

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

Front

What is gravity?

Back

Gravity is a force that attracts two bodies toward each other. The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them.

Front

What is mass?

Back

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, usually measured in kilograms or grams.

Front

How does mass affect inertia?

Back

Objects with greater mass have greater inertia, meaning they are harder to start or stop moving.

Front

What is weight?

Back

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, calculated as the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity.

Front

What role does the Sun's gravitational force play in the solar system?

Back

The Sun's gravitational force holds the Earth and other planets in orbit around it.

Front

What happens to an object in motion when no external force acts on it?

Back

It will continue to move in a straight line at a constant speed due to inertia.

Front

What would happen to the planets if the Sun's gravitational force disappeared?

Back

The planets would fly away in straight lines, no longer held in orbit by the Sun's gravity.

Front

What is the relationship between gravity and weight?

Back

Weight is the measure of the gravitational force acting on an object. More mass means more weight due to stronger gravitational pull.

Front

What is an example of inertia in everyday life?

Back

When a car suddenly stops, passengers lurch forward due to inertia.