Newton's First Law: The Law of Inertia

Which statement best defines inertia in the context of Newton’s First Law?

• Property that creates motion from rest

• Resistance to gravity in free fall motion

• Ability to increase speed without force

• Tendency to keep current state of motion

Two cars travel at the same speed; Car X has smaller mass than Car Y. If both brake with equal force, which outcome is most accurate?

• Car Y needs longer stopping distance

• Car X needs longer stopping distance

• Both have equal stopping distance

• Car X stops instantly without distance

A passenger is standing in a bus when it suddenly stops. What motion of the passenger is most likely and why?

• Moves forward due to inertia of motion

• Moves backward due to engine braking

• Stays still due to balanced forces

• Moves sideways due to centripetal force

A fan is spinning and the power is switched off. Which explanation best fits Newton’s First Law?

• Blades stop instantly without forces

• Motor adds force to keep spinning

• Blades keep rotating due to inertia

• Air resistance speeds blades up

Which statement correctly links mass and inertia for moving objects?

• Greater mass means smaller inertia

• Inertia only applies when at rest

• Mass has no effect on inertia

• Greater mass means greater inertia

Which situation best illustrates positive acceleration as described: a runner’s position increases 5 m, then 6 m, then 7 m, then 8 m in equal 1 s intervals?

• Speed increasing each second by equal amounts

• Speed decreasing each second by equal amounts

• Speed constant over all measured seconds

• Direction reversing while speed stays constant

A car experiences unbalanced forces with F1 greater than F2 in the forward direction. What happens to the car according to Newton’s second law?

• Its speed remains constant without any acceleration

• Its velocity changes over time with acceleration

• It stops moving because forces act on it

• It immediately reaches maximum possible velocity

Which cart has the greatest inertia among four carts: 4 kg at 1 m/s, 3 kg at 1.5 m/s, 2 kg at 3 m/s, 1 kg at 4 m/s?

• The 2 kg cart moving at 3 m/s

• The 3 kg cart moving at 1.5 m/s

• The 1 kg cart moving at 4 m/s

• The 4 kg cart moving at 1 m/s

Two identical cars move at the same speed on a highway. How does cruise control keep their velocities constant?

• By turning off sensors to avoid feedback

• By increasing engine power continuously

• By locking the wheels to prevent motion

• By adjusting fuel so forces are balanced

• Doubling speed from 2 m/s to 4 m/s

• Doubling mass from 3 kg to 6 kg

• Increasing speed from 2 m/s to 3 m/s

• Increasing mass from 3 kg to 4 kg