Define inertia. State its three types.
Question
Define inertia. State its three types.
Solution
Inertia is a fundamental concept in physics, which describes the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. It is derived from the Latin word, 'iners', meaning idle or sluggish. Inertia is the inherent property of a body that makes it oppose any force that attempts to change its state of motion or direction. It is only due to inertia, an object continues to do whatever it's doing unless any external force is applied to it.
There are three types of inertia:
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Inertia of Rest: This is the tendency of an object to remain in its state of rest until an external force is applied. For example, when a car suddenly starts moving, the passengers tend to jerk backwards.
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Inertia of Motion: This is the tendency of an object to continue in its state of motion unless an external force is applied. For example, if a moving car suddenly stops, the passengers tend to jerk forward.
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Inertia of Direction: This is the tendency of an object to continue moving in the same direction unless an external force is applied. For example, when a car takes a sharp turn, the passengers tend to lean towards the opposite direction of the turn.
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A student demonstrates the principle of inertia by placing a coin on a cardboard that rests on a glass of water. He gives the card a quick pull and the coin falls straight down into the glass of water. Which statement best describes inertia?Group of answer choicesInertia is a property that depends on friction forcesInertia is a property of matter by which it remains at rest or in unchanging motion unless acted on by some external forceInertia is a property that makes matter fall.Inertia is a property of matter that is due to the forces acting on it.
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