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Inertia Demonstration

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About This MicroSim

This simulation demonstrates Newton's First Law (the Law of Inertia) and how mass affects an object's resistance to changes in motion. Three objects with different masses (1 kg, 5 kg, and 10 kg) are subjected to the same force, allowing students to observe how:

  • Lighter objects accelerate more than heavier objects
  • All objects continue at constant velocity after the force stops
  • The relationship F = ma determines the acceleration

Learning Objectives

  • Understand that inertia is the tendency of objects to resist changes in motion
  • Apply Newton's Second Law (F = ma) to predict acceleration
  • Recognize that mass is a measure of inertia
  • Observe Newton's First Law in action (constant velocity when net force is zero)

How to Use

  1. Adjust the Force slider to set the applied force (5-50 N)
  2. Adjust the Time slider to set how long the force is applied
  3. Click Apply Force to push all three objects with equal force
  4. Observe how different masses result in different accelerations
  5. Watch the objects continue at constant velocity after the force stops
  6. Click Reset to start over

Key Concepts

  • Inertia: The property of matter that resists changes in motion
  • Mass: A measure of an object's inertia
  • Newton's First Law: Objects in motion stay in motion at constant velocity unless acted upon by a net force
  • Newton's Second Law: F = ma (acceleration is proportional to force and inversely proportional to mass)