Newton’s laws of motion

Definition

Newton's laws of motion are a set of three fundamental principles that describe the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it. They form the foundation for classical mechanics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Newton's First Law, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.
2. Newton's Second Law establishes the equation $F = ma$, indicating that force is equal to mass times acceleration.
3. Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
4. These laws apply to objects with constant mass and are most accurate in inertial reference frames.
5. The application of Newton's laws requires careful analysis of all forces acting on a system, including gravitational, normal, frictional, and tension forces.

Review Questions

• What does Newton's First Law tell us about objects in motion?
• How can you calculate the force acting on an object using Newton's Second Law?
• Describe a real-world example demonstrating Newton's Third Law.

Related terms

Inertia:

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.

Force:

An interaction that causes a change in an object's motion; measured in newtons (N).

Mass:

A measure of the amount of matter in an object; typically measured in kilograms (kg).