EK 1001 chapter 2 number 132

[2010premed]

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Which of the following has the greatest inertia?
A. a 5 kg mass at rest
B. a 5 kg mass moving at 10m/s
C. a 5 kg mass accelerating at 10 m/s^2
D. All have the same inertia

Why is the answer D????

 

[Gryhu]

This is a common topic that trips people up.

Just think of it this way: Inertia is an objects tendency to remain in its present state of motion (velocity). Mass will tell us how much it wants to remain at its present velocity. Velocity could even be 0 m/s (at rest).

For example:

A 10kg mass will resist a change in its velocity exactly twice as much as a 5kg mass.

When doing an problem with inertia, just look at mass. Greater the mass, greater the resistance to change, greater the inertia.

Hope this helped 🙂


Source: EK Physics

 

[2010premed]

thanks, that helps a lot