Inertia

What is inertia?

Definition: It is the reluctance of the object to change its state of rest or motion, due to its mass.

What is the relationship of mass with inertia?

Answer: The larger the mass, the greater the inertia.

Classic Inertia Questions

1. Why is the driver thrown forward when he suddenly applies the brake?

• Initially, the driver is at a state of motion, when the car suddenly stops, the driver is reluctant to change its state of motion due to inertia, therefore he is thrown forward.

2. Distinguish between mass and inertia. State how they are related to each other.

• Mass is the measure of the amount of matter in a body.
• Inertia refers to the reluctance of a body to change its state of motion.
• The inertia of an object increases with its mass.