What is and some explamples of inertial frame of reference ?

In summary, an inertial frame of reference is a frame that is not accelerating and is often used as a basis for measuring motion. It is important to have a specific question when seeking information on this topic to ensure helpful responses. Complete inertial frames may not exist due to the influence of gravity, but for practical purposes, frames relative to points on Earth's surface or distant stars can be used.
  • #1
Anti Hydrogen
37
4
I know this is a basic question, but I haven't understood deeply what a inertial frame of reference is, to be more specific, its relation with the first law of motion.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Anti Hydrogen said:
but I haven't understood deeply what a inertial frame of reference is
What have you read about inertial frames, and what, specifically, do you not understand about them? The better you can focus your question, the better will be the the responses that you will get. Otherwise you will get responses that lead in many different directions, with no guarantee that any of them will actually help you.
 
  • #3
A simple explanation is an inertial frame of reference is one that is not accelerating, although the actual description is usually more detailed. Link to wiki article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_frame_of_reference

Real examples of complete inertial frames probably don't exist, since gravity from objects in space result in some acceleration. However for practical purposes, a frame relative to some point on the surface of the Earth is often used as a frame of reference. For space travel in our solar system, the sun could be used for position and some distant star used for direction (to avoid a rotating frame).
 
Last edited:

1. What is an inertial frame of reference?

An inertial frame of reference is a reference frame in which Newton's laws of motion hold true. This means that an object will remain at rest or continue moving in a straight line at a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force.

2. How is an inertial frame of reference different from a non-inertial frame of reference?

An inertial frame of reference is one in which there are no external forces acting on an object, while a non-inertial frame of reference is one in which there are external forces present, such as acceleration or rotation. In a non-inertial frame, Newton's laws of motion do not hold true.

3. Can you provide an example of an inertial frame of reference?

An example of an inertial frame of reference is a person standing on a train that is moving at a constant speed on a straight track. From the person's perspective, they are at rest and objects inside the train will also appear to be at rest. This is because there are no external forces acting on the train, making it an inertial frame of reference.

4. How do inertial frames of reference relate to the theory of relativity?

The theory of relativity states that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference. This means that the laws of motion and other physical phenomena will appear the same to observers in different inertial frames, regardless of their relative velocities.

5. Are there any limitations to the concept of inertial frames of reference?

Yes, there are limitations to the concept of inertial frames of reference. In reality, it is difficult to find a truly inertial frame as there are always external forces present, such as gravitational forces. Additionally, the theory of relativity also suggests that there is no absolute reference frame, making it impossible to define a truly inertial frame.

Similar threads

  • Mechanics
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
25
Views
1K
Replies
18
Views
980
Replies
15
Views
847
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Mechanics
Replies
3
Views
76
Replies
12
Views
3K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Back
Top