Which property describes an object's resistance to changes in motion?

Which property describes an object's resistance to changes in motion?

• A. Momentum
• B. Inertia
• C. Weight
• D. Acceleration

Answer: (B)

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. This means an object will keep moving at the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it, and a resting object stays at rest unless pushed. Mass measures that resistance—the more mass, the greater the inertia, so heavier objects are harder to start or stop. For example, a heavy box resists changes in motion more than a light one, and you feel pushed forward when a car stops because your body wants to keep moving. Momentum describes how much motion an object has, not its resistance to changing that motion. Weight is the gravitational force on an object, and acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes, which depends on the net force acting on the object rather than the inherent resistance itself.

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. This means an object will keep moving at the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it, and a resting object stays at rest unless pushed. Mass measures that resistance—the more mass, the greater the inertia, so heavier objects are harder to start or stop. For example, a heavy box resists changes in motion more than a light one, and you feel pushed forward when a car stops because your body wants to keep moving. Momentum describes how much motion an object has, not its resistance to changing that motion. Weight is the gravitational force on an object, and acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes, which depends on the net force acting on the object rather than the inherent resistance itself.