A cylinder on a frictionless surface in a vacuum will continue to roll indefinitely due to Newton's First Law of Motion, as no forces act upon it to impede its motion. If a force is applied, it will decelerate according to the equation a=F/m, and the force can also create torque affecting its rotational motion. The discussion highlights that while an object can approach the speed of light when a force is applied, it can never actually reach it due to relativistic effects. Additionally, as energy is added to an object, it gains mass, albeit in negligible amounts. Understanding these principles is crucial for grasping the dynamics of motion in a vacuum.