An object moving with constant velocity experiences no net external force. What can be said about its motion?

An object moving with constant velocity experiences no net external force. What can be said about its motion?

• A. Its velocity changes due to the lack of net force
• B. Its velocity remains constant
• C. Its velocity will become zero
• D. Its velocity becomes infinite

Answer: (B)

Inertia governs motion: a body in motion tends to keep moving with the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it. If the net external force is zero, the acceleration is zero, so the velocity cannot change. The object will continue moving at the same speed in the same direction. It won’t slow down to rest, nor speed up to something infinite, because there’s nothing pushing or pulling to change its motion.

Inertia governs motion: a body in motion tends to keep moving with the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it. If the net external force is zero, the acceleration is zero, so the velocity cannot change. The object will continue moving at the same speed in the same direction. It won’t slow down to rest, nor speed up to something infinite, because there’s nothing pushing or pulling to change its motion.