if the external force on a body is zero then which of the following is zero
If the external force on a body is zero, then which of the following is zero?
Answer:
According to Newton’s First Law of Motion (also known as the law of inertia), if the net external force acting on a body is zero, it implies that the object will either remain at rest or move with a constant velocity. This essentially means no changes occur in the state of motion of the object.
The concept here frequently relates to a quantity that measures how the velocity of a body changes with time, which is acceleration. Let’s elaborate on why acceleration is zero in this case.
Key Explanation:
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Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is given by the equation:F = mawhere:
- F = Net external force acting on the object,
- m = Mass of the object,
- a = Acceleration of the object.
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When External Force (F) is Zero:
If F = 0, then:0 = maFor the mass m \neq 0, this implies:
a = 0Thus, the acceleration is zero when the net external force acting on the body is zero.
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Physical Interpretation:
- When acceleration is zero, the velocity of the object does not change. This can mean:
- The object remains stationary (if initially at rest).
- The object continues to move at a constant velocity (if it was already in motion).
- When acceleration is zero, the velocity of the object does not change. This can mean:
The Correct Answer: What is Zero?
When the external force on a body is zero, the acceleration of the body is zero.
Summary in Table Form:
External Force (F) | Resulting Acceleration (a) | Motion State |
---|---|---|
F = 0 | a = 0 | Object stays rest or constant speed (no change in velocity). |
Thus, the main quantity that becomes zero when no external force acts on an object is acceleration (a).
If you have more follow-up questions related to this topic, feel free to ask!