What is Newton's first law of motion? (The Law of Inertia?)?

Question

-There are tree blocks in a cart
-The cart travels and hits a solid barrier
-The blocks fall

How does this show Newton's first law of motion?

Three blocks*

Answer 1

The first law of Newton is, “an object is at rest or in uniform motion till a force acts on it”

Hence first law tells us what a force is.

A force is one which changes the state of rest or state of uniform speed.

All the three laws of motion are implicated in the given example.

First of all let us assume that the cart with the blocks is moving toward the solid barrier with a constant speed.

Though both the cart and blocks are moving, the blocks are rest with respect to the cart and vice versa.

The static frictional force between the blocks and cart is preventing the relative motion between the two.

Newton’s first law explains this.

If there is no frictional force between the two, then there will be relative motion between the two.

Now consider the motion of the two together. Both are moving toward the barrier with constant speed.

Thus both will be in a state of constant speed till a force acts on them.

“The cart hits the barrier” means, “The cart exerts a force on the barrier”.
By Newton’s third law the barrier exerts an equal and opposite force.

We are not bothered about what happens to the barrier when the cart exerts a force on the barrier but we are concerned about the reaction force- that is the force exerted on the cart by the barrier.

The cart comes to rest because of this force. By Newton’s first law the state of motion of the cart is changed to state of rest.

When we consider the motion of the block on the cart, initially before the collision of the cart with the barrier, there was no relative motion between the two.

When the cart strikes the wall, the speed of the cart is reduced where as the speed of the block is still in the forward motion (toward the barrier).

There fore, the blocks will move forward toward the barrier.

If we assume that there is no friction, then the blocks will move forward and hit some portion on the cart and hence their speed is reduced and increased in the opposite direction and they do fell off the cart. This is also due to the external force and is as per Newton’s first law of motion.

If we take into account the action of force of friction, the situation becomes some what hard to explain in a simple manner.

Answer 2

Forget about the cart, just focus on the three blocks. The inertia of the blocks results in them wanting and trying to keep moving, regardless of what happens to the cart which is carrying them.

It is indeed a demonstration of Newton's First Law. The blocks keep moving since there is no external force acting on them. The external force is acting on the cart only.

Answer 3

newtons first law: an object moving in in uniform velocity in a straight line will continue to move in such way, and a stationary object will remain sationary. Both cases are if no external forces are applied. Thisis how this law is used in society. Ppl have been using it even before newton founded it. When people believe someone is bad they continue to believe he is bad, until they stummble upon evidence that the guy is good. A lazy man wont get anywhere unless he gets his butt moving in the right direction. in environment. its a bit difficult o observe in environment, beacuse it all connected and forces act on everything.

Answer 4

newton's first law of motion is: 1 a body at rest stays at rest and a body in motion stays in motion unless an equal or greater force acts on it.

SO

the cart is in motion until it hits the tree with the same force it hits it with. it doesn't move because no greater force was applied.


same with above.


peace!


Vin

PATRIOTS FREAKING ROCK!!!! Inspite of Tom brady aka The Interceptor.. 73 career as of today.

Answer 5

-anything in motion, stays in motion
-anything at rest, stays at rest until an outside object acts upon it.

The blocks was at rest and the cart was in motion. The cart came and hit the blocks, so now they are in motion (falling down)

Answer 6

Object at rest remains at rest, object in motion continues at constant velocity unless object expireneces external force.

The blocks were moving with truck at constant velocity, then an extrernal force stopped the truck, causing the blocks to continue moving and fall.

Answer 7

I. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

Answer 8

An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external and unbalanced force . An object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external and unbalanced force.

Thats what Wikipedia defines it as

Answer 9

blocks stand still until a force is applied to them (impact of the cart)

Answer 10

An object in motion will keep moving until another object stops it.