Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate the inertia of rest.
Describe a simple experiment to demonstrate the inertia of rest.
Make a pile of similar carom coins on a table. 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.
Conclusion: The activity given above illustrate that there is a resistance offered by an object to change its state of motion. If it is at rest it tends to remain at rest; if it is moving it tends to keep moving. The resistance offered by a body to its change of rest is known as the inertia of rest. This property of an object is called its inertia. We know that it is easier to push an empty box than a box full of books. Similarly, if we kick a football it flies away. But if we kick a stone of the same size with equal force, it hardly moves.
Make a pile of similar carom coins on a table. 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.
Conclusion: The activity given above illustrate that there is a resistance offered by an object to change its state of motion. If it is at rest it tends to remain at rest; if it is moving it tends to keep moving. The resistance offered by a body to its change of rest is known as the inertia of rest. This property of an object is called its inertia. We know that it is easier to push an empty box than a box full of books. Similarly, if we kick a football it flies away. But if we kick a stone of the same size with equal force, it hardly moves.
