What is the term for the resistance of an object to change in its state of motion?

What is the term for the resistance of an object to change in its state of motion?

• A. Momentum
• B. Inertia
• C. Friction
• D. Acceleration

Answer: (B)

The term that describes the resistance of an object to change in its state of motion is inertia. Inertia is a fundamental property of matter; it is directly related to an object's mass. The greater the mass of an object, the more inertia it possesses, meaning it is more resistant to changes in its motion, whether that is starting to move, stopping, or changing direction. This concept is crucial in understanding Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force. In contrast, momentum refers to the quantity of motion an object has, which is dependent on both mass and velocity, rather than just the resistance to motion. Friction is a force that opposes motion between surfaces in contact, and while it affects movement, it is not a measure of resistance to change in motion itself. Acceleration, on the other hand, pertains to the change in velocity of an object over time and is influenced by forces acting on the object, not the inherent resistance to motion. Hence, inertia clearly represents the concept of resistance to changes in motion.

The term that describes the resistance of an object to change in its state of motion is inertia. Inertia is a fundamental property of matter; it is directly related to an object's mass. The greater the mass of an object, the more inertia it possesses, meaning it is more resistant to changes in its motion, whether that is starting to move, stopping, or changing direction. This concept is crucial in understanding Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

In contrast, momentum refers to the quantity of motion an object has, which is dependent on both mass and velocity, rather than just the resistance to motion. Friction is a force that opposes motion between surfaces in contact, and while it affects movement, it is not a measure of resistance to change in motion itself. Acceleration, on the other hand, pertains to the change in velocity of an object over time and is influenced by forces acting on the object, not the inherent resistance to motion. Hence, inertia clearly represents the concept of resistance to changes in motion.