Is Every Example Listed an Illustration of Newton's First Law?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on identifying examples of Newton's First Law, which states that objects in motion remain in motion and objects at rest stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force. The examples provided include a herd jerking back when a car accelerates, hitting a shoe against a wall to knock off snow, and an apple hanging motionless on a tree. The consensus is that all situations illustrate the law, with the correct answer being "d." Clarifications emphasize that inertia explains the perceived motion of the herd and the apple's stillness due to lack of external forces. Understanding these examples reinforces the concept of inertia in Newton's First Law.
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Homework Statement

Which situations below are examples of Newton's First Law?

a) Your herd jerking back when car accelerates rapidly.
b) Hitting shoe on wall to knock off snow.
c) An apple hanging motionless on a tree.
d) All of the above


I know Newton's first law states that objects in motion stay in motion and objects at rest tend to stay at rest; the law essentially describes inertia.

The only situation I am absolutely sure about is a but according to the answer key the answer is d. I guess b could work, the shoe stops but snow keeps moving but I am not sure.

Any clarification would help me greatly. Thanks.
 
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Yes, "d" would be the correct response. Your head tends to want to continue in its current state of motion, so you percieve it being jerked back when the car accelerates. Your right about the shoe with the snow. And the apple hanging in the tree has essentially no "push or pull" or outside influences on it so wit will maintain its state of motion (in this case staying still).

That clear things up?
 
Yes, thank you
 
I know Newton's first law states that objects in motion stay in motion and objects at rest tend to stay at rest unless acted on by a net unbalanced force[/color].
Note the comment above in red[/color].
 
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