Questions: Which of the following is a true principle of inertia? A. It is a force that causes objects to move. B. It is proportional to the mass of an object. It is the tendency of an object to change its backward motion. D. It is a natural phenomenon that exists when friction is absent.

Which of the following is a true principle of inertia?
A. It is a force that causes objects to move.
B. It is proportional to the mass of an object.
It is the tendency of an object to change its backward motion.
D. It is a natural phenomenon that exists when friction is absent.

Transcript text: Which of the following is a true principle of inertia? A. It is a force that causes objects to move. B. It is proportional to the mass of an object. It is the tendency of an object to change its backward motion. D. It is a natural phenomenon that exists when friction is absent.

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understanding the Principle of Inertia

Inertia is a fundamental concept in physics, specifically in Newton's First Law of Motion. It refers to the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object will remain at rest or continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

Step 2: Analyzing Each Option

Option A: "It is a force that causes objects to move." This is incorrect because inertia is not a force; it is a property of matter.
Option B: "It is proportional to the mass of an object." This is true because the more mass an object has, the greater its inertia, meaning it is harder to change its state of motion.
Option C: "It is the tendency of an object to change its backward motion." This is incorrect because inertia does not specifically relate to backward motion; it applies to any change in motion.
Option D: "It is a natural phenomenon that exists when friction is absent." This is incorrect because inertia exists regardless of the presence of friction.