Final answer:
Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newton's first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. This law is based on the concept of inertia, which is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
For example, if you push a stationary ball, it will start rolling and continue to roll unless friction or another force stops it. Similarly, if you slide a book across a table, it will eventually come to a stop due to the force of friction. The key idea is that an object will maintain its state of motion unless something causes it to change that state. If no force is applied, an object will stay still or keep moving in a straight line at a constant speed.