Experiment on Newtons First Law

In summary, there are several everyday examples that demonstrate Newton's first law, such as stamping your foot to get snow off, shaking your hands to dry them, and looking at the planets in the night sky. These examples show how objects tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force, and how they will continue to move at a constant velocity unless a net force is applied.
  • #1
spikehoward
1
0
I am wondering if anyone knows of a good resource to see Newtons first law in action. For example, a block being pulled by increasing force until it moves?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to Physics Forums.

I think stamping your foot on the ground to get snow off is a great example: you put your foot and snow into motion. You apply a net force to stop your foot but not to the snow so it remains in motion, coming off your foot.

The same argument applies to shaking your hands to dry them...and to throwing anything.

The first law is also consistent with things usually staying where you put them.
 
  • #3
spikehoward said:
to see Newtons first law in action
Look up in the (night is best) sky and see the planets and all the rest of the stuff up there, moving and obeying N1 and N2 to a pretty good degree of accuracy.
 

1. What is Newton's First Law of Motion?

Newton's First Law of Motion, also known as the Law of Inertia, states that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.

2. What is the purpose of an experiment on Newton's First Law?

The purpose of an experiment on Newton's First Law is to demonstrate the concept of inertia and how it affects the motion of objects. By conducting experiments, we can observe the effects of external forces on objects and better understand the principles of motion.

3. What are some examples of Newton's First Law in everyday life?

Some examples of Newton's First Law in everyday life include objects remaining still until a force is applied (such as a soccer ball staying on the ground until a player kicks it), objects continuing to move at a constant speed until a force is applied (such as a car coasting until the brakes are applied), and the feeling of being pushed back when a car suddenly accelerates.

4. How can we conduct an experiment on Newton's First Law?

To conduct an experiment on Newton's First Law, we can use simple materials such as a toy car, a ramp, and various objects to act as external forces. By varying the weight of the objects and the angle of the ramp, we can observe how it affects the motion of the car and demonstrate the concept of inertia.

5. What are the limitations of Newton's First Law?

While Newton's First Law is a fundamental principle in physics, it has some limitations. One limitation is that it only applies to objects with constant velocity, not those that are accelerating. Additionally, in the presence of external forces such as friction, the motion of objects may not follow the Law of Inertia exactly. This is why it is important to conduct experiments to better understand and apply this law.

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