What is Galileo's Law of Inertia and How Did He Prove It?

In summary, Galileo proved his first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia, by conducting experiments with rolling balls. He showed that once an object is in motion, no force is needed to keep it moving except for the force needed to overcome friction. This was contrary to the prevailing idea of Aristotle that forces were necessary to keep objects in motion. Galileo's experiments on inclined planes and level surfaces demonstrated that a moving object will maintain a constant speed if friction is absent. This led him to conclude that a ball moving horizontally would continue to move forever, demonstrating the concept of inertia.
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parshyaa
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How galileo proved his first law of motion ie law of inertia by taking conclusions from rolling ball experiments.
 
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parshyaa said:
How galileo proved his first law of motion ie law of inertia by taking conclusions from rolling ball experiments.

Galileo showed that the prevailing idea of Aristotle about forces being necessary to keep objects in motion was not correct..

Although a force is needed to start an object moving,Galileo showed that, once it is moving, no force is needed to keep it moving except for the force needed to overcome friction.
When friction is absent, a moving object needs no force to keep it moving. It will remain in motion all by itself.

Galileo tested his idea by conducting following experiments .

He rolled balls down inclined planes and observed and recorded the gain in speed as rolling continued.
On downward-sloping planes, the force of gravity increases a ball’s speed.

On an upward slope, the force of gravity decreases a ball’s speed.

He asked -What about a ball rolling on a level surface?

While rolling on a level surface, the ball neither rolls with nor against the vertical force of gravity and it neither speeds up nor slows down. The rolling ball maintains a constant speed.
Galileo reasoned that a ball moving horizontally would move forever, if friction were entirely absent .
Such a ball would move all by itself of its own inertia.
 
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  • #3
drvrm said:
Galileo showed that the prevailing idea of Aristotle about forces being necessary to keep objects in motion was not correct..

Although a force is needed to start an object moving,Galileo showed that, once it is moving, no force is needed to keep it moving except for the force needed to overcome friction.
When friction is absent, a moving object needs no force to keep it moving. It will remain in motion all by itself.

Galileo tested his idea by conducting following experiments .

He rolled balls down inclined planes and observed and recorded the gain in speed as rolling continued.
On downward-sloping planes, the force of gravity increases a ball’s speed.

On an upward slope, the force of gravity decreases a ball’s speed.

He asked -What about a ball rolling on a level surface?

While rolling on a level surface, the ball neither rolls with nor against the vertical force of gravity and it neither speeds up nor slows down. The rolling ball maintains a constant speed.
Galileo reasoned that a ball moving horizontally would move forever, if friction were entirely absent .
Such a ball would move all by itself of its own inertia.
Thanks , your answer made be satisfied
 
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parshyaa said:
Thanks , your answer made be satisfied
the customary thanks on this forum is just to 'like' a post.
 
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drvrm said:
the customary thanks on this forum is just to 'like' a post.
Replying with a few words of appreciation is equally customary. :smile:
 
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1. What is Galileo's law of inertia?

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

2. How did Galileo come up with this law?

Galileo observed that objects tend to resist changes in their motion. He conducted experiments with inclined planes and rolling balls, and concluded that the natural state of an object is to remain at rest or in motion at a constant speed.

3. How does Galileo's law of inertia differ from Aristotle's theory of motion?

Aristotle believed that objects would come to rest on their own if they were no longer pushed, while Galileo's law states that an object will continue moving at a constant velocity if no external force acts upon it. This marked a significant shift in understanding of motion and laid the foundation for Newton's laws of motion.

4. Is Galileo's law of inertia applicable to all objects?

Yes, Galileo's law of inertia applies to all objects, regardless of their mass or size. This law is a fundamental principle of physics and is used to explain the behavior of everything from a falling apple to the motion of planets.

5. How has Galileo's law of inertia impacted modern science?

Galileo's law of inertia is a cornerstone of modern physics and has greatly influenced our understanding of motion and the universe. It has paved the way for further discoveries in the field of physics and has been applied in various fields, such as engineering, astronomy, and space exploration.

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