SCI 102: Part I - Energy (Physics) Notes on Inertia and Newton's First Law

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Newton's First Law and inertia as presented in the lecture notes.

Inertia

The property of matter that resists changes in motion; depends solely on mass. An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion tends to continue moving in a straight line at constant speed unless acted on by a net external (unbalanced) force.

Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia)

Every object continues in a state of rest or of uniform speed in a straight line unless acted on by a nonzero (unbalanced) force.

Unbalanced force

Forces that are not equal and opposite; a net force that causes a change in motion.

Balanced forces

Forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, producing no change in motion.

Mass

A measure of the amount of matter in an object; determines the object's inertia (resistance to changes in motion).

Force

A push or pull on an object that can cause a change in motion; can be balanced or unbalanced.

Gravity

The force of attraction between masses; explains why objects are pulled toward Earth and other masses.

Friction

A resistive force that opposes motion between two contacting surfaces, causing slowing or stopping.

Motion

The change in an object's position or the state of rest or uniform straight-line motion.

Velocity

Speed with a specified direction; constant velocity means constant speed in a straight line.

Acceleration

The rate of change of velocity; occurs when a net force acts on an object.

Galileo

The early scientist who helped introduce the concept of inertia before Newton.

Net force

The sum of all forces acting on an object; determines whether motion changes (unbalanced) or remains the same (balanced).

Inertia in space (no gravity/friction)

In the absence of external forces, an object will continue moving in its current state of motion indefinitely.

Newton's Laws (context)

A set of laws describing motion; the First Law is inertia, and the Second Law relates net force to acceleration (F = ma), as referenced in the notes.