Inertia in Motion with Scenarios

Which of the following best describes the concept of inertia?

• The tendency of an object to change its state of motion

• The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion

• The force required to move an object

• The speed at which an object moves

Answer explanation

Inertia is defined as the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an external force.

Oliver and Maya are in a car moving at a constant speed. Suddenly, the car stops. What happens to Oliver and Maya inside due to inertia?

• They move backward

• They move forward

• They stay in place

• They move sideways

Answer explanation

Due to inertia, when the car stops suddenly, Oliver and Maya continue moving forward at the same speed they were traveling. This is because their bodies tend to maintain their state of motion, resulting in them moving forward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

Which of the following scenarios is an example of inertia?

• A ball rolling down a hill speeds up

  

• A book remains at rest on a table until someone moves it

  

• A car accelerates when the gas pedal is pressed

  

• A balloon rises when filled with helium

  

Answer explanation

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. The correct choice, 'A book remains at rest on a table until someone moves it,' illustrates this, as the book stays still until acted upon.

What will happen to a moving object if no external force is applied to it, according to the concept of inertia?

• It will stop immediately

• It will continue moving at the same speed and direction

• It will change direction

• It will slow down gradually

Answer explanation

According to the concept of inertia, an object in motion will remain in motion at the same speed and direction unless acted upon by an external force. Therefore, the correct answer is that it will continue moving at the same speed and direction.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-1

NGSS.HS-PS2-2

Which of the following statements is true about inertia?

• Inertia is a force that acts on objects

• Inertia depends on the mass of an object

• Inertia is the same for all objects regardless of mass

• Inertia causes objects to accelerate

Answer explanation

Inertia is not a force but a property of matter that resists changes in motion. It directly depends on the mass of an object; more massive objects have greater inertia, making the statement 'Inertia depends on the mass of an object' true.

William is pushing a shopping cart at the grocery store. How does increasing the mass of the cart affect its inertia?

• It decreases the cart's inertia

• It has no effect on the cart's inertia

• It increases the cart's inertia

• It changes the direction of the cart's inertia

Answer explanation

Inertia is the resistance of an object to changes in its motion. Increasing the mass of the cart increases its inertia, making it harder to start or stop moving. Therefore, the correct answer is that it increases the cart's inertia.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Which of the following is an example of inertia in everyday life?

• A car accelerating when the light turns green

• A person standing still on a moving bus and feeling a jolt when the bus stops

• A bird flying in the sky

• A leaf falling from a tree

Answer explanation

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. The person on the moving bus feels a jolt when it stops because their body wants to continue moving forward, demonstrating inertia.

Why do passengers in a car feel a push backward when the car accelerates forward?

• Because of the car's speed

• Due to the inertia of the passengers

• Because of the car's weight

• Due to the friction between the car and the road

Answer explanation

Passengers feel a push backward when the car accelerates due to inertia, which is the tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion. As the car moves forward, the passengers' bodies want to remain in their original position.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

What is the relationship between inertia and Newton's First Law of Motion?

• Inertia is unrelated to Newton's First Law

• Inertia is the reason objects obey Newton's First Law

• Inertia contradicts Newton's First Law

• Inertia only applies to objects at rest

Answer explanation

Inertia is the property of matter that causes it to resist changes in motion. Newton's First Law states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by a force, which is directly related to the concept of inertia.

Olivia is playing with a ball on a flat playground. She notices that after she rolls it, the ball eventually stops. What force is primarily responsible for overcoming its inertia?

• Gravity

• Friction

• Air resistance

• Magnetic force

Answer explanation

Friction is the force that opposes the motion of the ball on the playground. It acts to slow the ball down and eventually stop it, overcoming its inertia.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2