Which term defines the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion?

Which term defines the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion?

• A. Inertia
• B. Momentum
• C. Velocity
• D. Force

Answer: (A)

The term that defines the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion is inertia. Inertia is a fundamental property of matter that refers to an object's resistance to any change in its velocity, including changes in speed or direction. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. Inertia is directly related to the mass of an object; greater mass results in greater inertia, making it more difficult to change the object's motion. This concept is central to Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object will not change its motion unless acted upon by a net external force. Other terms do relate to motion but in different contexts. Momentum, for instance, is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, and represents the quantity of motion an object has, rather than its resistance to changing states. Velocity is a vector quantity that specifies the rate of change of position of an object, indicating both speed and direction. Force refers to an influence that causes an object to undergo a change in motion, which is necessary to overcome inertia, rather than defining it.

The term that defines the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion is inertia. Inertia is a fundamental property of matter that refers to an object's resistance to any change in its velocity, including changes in speed or direction. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

Inertia is directly related to the mass of an object; greater mass results in greater inertia, making it more difficult to change the object's motion. This concept is central to Newton's first law of motion, which states that an object will not change its motion unless acted upon by a net external force.

Other terms do relate to motion but in different contexts. Momentum, for instance, is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, and represents the quantity of motion an object has, rather than its resistance to changing states. Velocity is a vector quantity that specifies the rate of change of position of an object, indicating both speed and direction. Force refers to an influence that causes an object to undergo a change in motion, which is necessary to overcome inertia, rather than defining it.