Which term is described as the inherent tendency of a system to resist changes in motion?

Which term is described as the inherent tendency of a system to resist changes in motion?

• A. Inertia
• B. Momentum
• C. Velocity
• D. Acceleration

Answer: (A)

Inertia is the inherent tendency of a body to resist changes in its motion. This means a stationary object wants to stay at rest and a moving object wants to keep moving at the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it. The amount of inertia is tied to the object's mass—the more massive something is, the harder it is to start moving, stop, or change its speed. In a helicopter, inertia explains why the aircraft tends to keep moving in its current motion unless the pilot applies a force (through controls, thrust, and drag) to alter that state. Momentum is related but describes the amount of motion (mass times velocity) rather than resistance to change; velocity is simply speed with direction, and acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes, not the resistance itself.

Inertia is the inherent tendency of a body to resist changes in its motion. This means a stationary object wants to stay at rest and a moving object wants to keep moving at the same speed and direction unless a net external force acts on it. The amount of inertia is tied to the object's mass—the more massive something is, the harder it is to start moving, stop, or change its speed. In a helicopter, inertia explains why the aircraft tends to keep moving in its current motion unless the pilot applies a force (through controls, thrust, and drag) to alter that state. Momentum is related but describes the amount of motion (mass times velocity) rather than resistance to change; velocity is simply speed with direction, and acceleration is the rate at which velocity changes, not the resistance itself.