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 unbalanced force.

Front

What is an unbalanced force?

Back

An unbalanced force is a force that causes an object to change its motion. It can cause an object to start moving, stop moving, or change direction.

Front

What is a balanced force?

Back

A balanced force is when two forces acting on an object are equal in size but opposite in direction, resulting in no change in motion.

Front

What is friction?

Back

Friction is the opposing force that occurs when two surfaces are in contact. It acts to slow down or stop the motion of an object.

Front

How does mass affect inertia?

Back

The greater the mass of an object, the greater its inertia. Heavier objects require more force to change their motion compared to lighter objects.

Front

What happens to a person in a car when it suddenly stops?

Back

The person continues moving forward due to inertia until an unbalanced force, like a seatbelt, acts on them to stop their motion.

Front

What is the relationship between inertia and motion?

Back

Inertia is directly related to motion; it describes how an object will continue in its current state of motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Front

What is an example of inertia in everyday life?

Back

When a bus suddenly stops, passengers lurch forward because their bodies want to continue moving in the same direction due to inertia.

Front

What is the role of unbalanced forces in tectonic plate movement?

Back

Unbalanced forces cause tectonic plates to move suddenly when they overcome the friction that keeps them stuck.

Front

What is the effect of friction on motion?

Back

Friction opposes motion, making it harder for objects to slide past each other, which can slow down or stop moving objects.