Final answer:
Newton's first law of motion states that a book on a table will not move until an external force is applied to it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that a body at rest will remain at rest, or if in motion, will remain in motion with a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.
Therefore, in the case of a book sitting on a table, it will not move until an external force is applied to it. This could be something like someone pushing or pulling the book, or a strong wind blowing it off the table.
Once the book is subjected to an external force, it will either start moving or change its existing motion, depending on the nature and magnitude of the force exerted.