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Which of the following statements describes what must be true in the context of Newton's First Law?

a. The tendency for drivers to keep moving linearly while the car
makes a sharp turn on the road is an example of the concept of
inertia.
b. An object with zero acceleration and an object traveling at a
constant acceleration are considered similar states.
c. Mass is a measure of an object's ability to resist motion or
movement of any kind.
d. The object is difficult to bring to a complete stop due to its high
initial speed.

User Pretzel
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The correct statement describing Newton's First Law is the one regarding the tendency for drivers to move linearly during a sharp turn, illustrating the concept of inertia. Other given statements either misdefine mass or incorrectly compare motion states, and do not represent Newton's First Law accurately.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the statements provided, the one that accurately describes an aspect of Newton's First Law is: 'The tendency for drivers to keep moving linearly while the car makes a sharp turn on the road is an example of the concept of inertia.' This statement is correct because it reflects the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force. Newton's First Law, often called the law of inertia, indicates that in the absence of a net external force, an object will not change its motion, which encapsulates both objects at rest and objects moving at a constant velocity.

Statement 'Mass is a measure of an object's ability to resist motion or movement of any kind' incorrectly defines mass. Mass is actually a measure of the amount of matter in a substance and is a determinant of an object's inertia, which is the resistance to changes in motion, not the motion itself.

Finally, the statement 'An object with zero acceleration and an object traveling at a constant acceleration are considered similar states' is incorrect, as constant acceleration implies a change in velocity over time, whereas zero acceleration suggests that an object is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity, per Newton's First Law.

The given definition that the object is 'difficult to bring to a complete stop due to its high initial speed' does not directly relate to Newton's First Law, as it does not comment on the lack of external forces; rather it implies difficulty due to high speed, which is more of a practical observation than a principle of inertia.

User Camo
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