Asked by Julie
Newton’s first law of motion was a giant leap forward in scientific thought during Newton’s time. Even today, the idea is sometimes difficult at first for people to understand.
Which statement is the best example of an object and motion that would make it hard for people to accept Newton’s first law?
A rolling ball eventually slows down and comes to a stop.
A box does not move when pushed equally from opposite sides.
All Answers 1
Answered by
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A rolling ball eventually slows down and comes to a stop.
Explanation: People’s everyday experience (friction and air resistance) shows moving things slow and stop, so they naturally expect motion needs a continuous push — which contradicts Newton’s first law. In reality those forces produce a net force that decelerates the ball; without them the ball would keep moving at constant velocity. The box pushed equally from opposite sides is just net zero force and agrees with the first law.
Explanation: People’s everyday experience (friction and air resistance) shows moving things slow and stop, so they naturally expect motion needs a continuous push — which contradicts Newton’s first law. In reality those forces produce a net force that decelerates the ball; without them the ball would keep moving at constant velocity. The box pushed equally from opposite sides is just net zero force and agrees with the first law.
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