Inertia of Isolated Mass: Can it be Defined?

  • Thread starter farid14
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Inertia
In summary, inertia of isolated mass is the property of matter that causes it to resist any change in its state of motion. It can be measured using the equation F=ma and is different from inertia of non-isolated mass, which refers to the resistance of an object to changes in its motion when influenced by external forces. It can be defined using Newton's first law of motion and plays a crucial role in the movement of objects in space.
  • #1
farid14
1
0
If there is no mass in the universe but one isolated mass, can we define "inertia" for this mass?!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Inertia is the resistance to a change in motion of an object when an external force is applied. Inertia is really just another word for mass in a physics sense. So yes, if it has mass it also has inertia.

Every force must have an equal and opposite reaction though, and since there are no other masses to react, there is no way to apply an external force.
 

1. What is the definition of inertia of isolated mass?

Inertia of isolated mass is the property of matter that causes it to resist any change in its state of motion. It is the tendency of an object to continue moving at a constant velocity or to remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force.

2. Can inertia of isolated mass be measured?

Yes, inertia of isolated mass can be measured using the equation F=ma, where F is the force applied to the object, m is the mass of the object, and a is the resulting acceleration.

3. How is inertia of isolated mass different from inertia of non-isolated mass?

Inertia of isolated mass refers to the resistance of an object to changes in its motion when it is completely isolated from its surroundings and not influenced by any external forces. In contrast, inertia of non-isolated mass refers to the resistance of an object to changes in its motion when it is influenced by external forces.

4. Can inertia of isolated mass be defined using Newton's first law of motion?

Yes, Newton's first law of motion states that an object will remain at rest or continue moving at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. This is essentially the definition of inertia of isolated mass.

5. How does inertia of isolated mass affect the movement of objects in space?

In space, where there is very little external force acting on objects, inertia of isolated mass plays a crucial role in the movement of objects. Objects will continue moving at a constant velocity in the absence of external forces due to their inertia, making it necessary for spacecraft and satellites to use thrusters to change their direction or speed.

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
888
  • Mechanics
Replies
2
Views
440
Replies
12
Views
278
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • Mechanics
Replies
2
Views
788
Replies
10
Views
1K
Replies
69
Views
4K
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Mechanics
Replies
6
Views
997
Back
Top