Newton's First Law
Inertia Demonstration with Coin and Card
This interactive experiment demonstrates Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia) using a coin and card. Observe how objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force!
Index Card
The Science Behind Newton's First Law
Newton's First Law (Law of Inertia):
"An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force."
What's Happening:
When you flick the card:
- The card moves quickly (acted upon by your finger's force)
- The coin remains at rest due to its inertia
- With the card removed, gravity acts on the coin, making it fall into the glass
Key Concepts:
- Inertia: Resistance to change in motion
- Unbalanced force: Needed to change an object's motion
- Mass and inertia: More mass means more inertia
Real-world Examples:
- Seatbelts protecting you when a car stops suddenly
- Tablecloth trick where dishes stay when cloth is pulled quickly
- Passengers lurch forward when a bus brakes suddenly
