C Reshmitha Naidu

9th class- M2

Inertia of Rest
 Statement of Newton's First Law of Motion : Every material body continues to
remain in its state of rest or state of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted
upon by an external unbalanced force to change the state of motion. This law is also
called as law of inertia.
Explanation : This law has two parts, the first part is giving us the concept of inertia
while the second part helps us in defining the force. The first part indicates that if a body
is at rest, then it cannot start moving by itself. Similarly, if the body is in state of uniform
motion in a straight line cannot increase or decrease its velocity or can not change the
direction by itself. Thus each body has the inability to change the state of rest or state of
uniform motion along a straight line by itself this inherent property of body is called inertia
of a body. The inertia of a body depends on the mass of the body. Thus mass is a measure of
inertia of a body.
The second part of the law helps us in defining the force. In the first part, we have seen
that a body can not change its state of motion on its own but some external physical quantity
is required to do so. This external physical quantity which is required to change the state of
motion of a body is called force.
 Examples of Inertia of Rest :
A coin is placed on a smooth card which serves as a lid on a glass. When the card is pulled
suddenly in the horizontal direction the coin falls into the glass. (Inertia of rest)

Explanation :
When the card is pulled horizontally it acquires motion due to pulling force. But as no force is
acting on the coin in a horizontal direction. The coin initially at rest on the card due to inertia
remains at rest. Thus gets separated from the card. Now there is no support at the bottom
the card falls in the glass under the action of gravity.
More Examples of Inertia of Rest :
1.A cyclist riding along a level road does not come to rest immediately after he stops pedaling.
2. On striking the coin at the bottom of a pile of carom coins with a striker, this coin only moves
away, while the rest of the pile remains at the original position.
3. When a hanging carpet is beaten with a stick, the dust particles start coming out of it. When
a carpet is beaten by stick the carpet is set into motion. But due to inertia, the dust particles
remain at rest. Thus they get separated from the carpet.
 Make a pile of similar carom coins on a table, as shown in figure.

• Make a pile of similar carom coins on a table, as shown in figure.

• Attempt a sharp horizontal hit at the bottom of the pile using another carom coin or
the striker. If the hit is strong enough, the bottom coin moves out quickly. Once the
lowest coin is removed, the inertia of the other coins makes them ‘fall’ vertically on
the table.
• The inertia of coins tries to maintain its state of rest even when one of the coin
moves out.
Thank you