Questions: Newton's First Law: Objects Resist Change
3 questions to test your understanding
Score: 0 / 3
Question 1 Multiple Choice
A spacecraft in deep space, far from any stars or planets, fires its engines and then shuts them off. What happens next?
AIt gradually slows down and stops
BIt keeps moving at the same speed in the same direction
CIt speeds up because there is no gravity
DIt drifts to a stop because the fuel ran out
Newton's First Law states that without an unbalanced force, an object in motion continues at constant velocity. In deep space there is virtually no friction or air resistance to slow it down.
Question 2 True / False
A force is required to keep an object moving at constant speed on a perfectly frictionless surface.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
Newton's First Law says that without unbalanced forces (like friction), an object already in motion continues at constant speed. No force is needed to maintain that motion.
Question 3 Short Answer
Why does a passenger lurch forward when a bus suddenly stops?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: The passenger's body has inertia and continues moving forward at the bus's original speed, even though the bus has stopped.
Newton's First Law says a moving object stays in motion unless acted on by an unbalanced force. The bus stopped due to brakes, but the passenger's body resists that change in motion.