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Push or pull to start or stop an object
Why do we need to push or pull to start or stop an object?
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1 Reply
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The need to push or pull an object to start or stop it is a fundamental principle of classical mechanics, known as Newton’s first law of motion, also called the law of inertia.
According to this law, an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity, unless an unbalanced force acts upon it. This means that an object requires an external force to either start moving (from rest) or change its velocity (stop or change direction).
The reason for this is that all objects possess a property called inertia, which is the resistance to changes in their state of motion. An object at rest tends to stay at rest due to its inertia, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion due to its inertia.
To overcome this inertia and start an object moving, we need to apply a net force in the desired direction, which we call a push or a pull. This force overcomes the object’s inertia and causes it to accelerate.
Similarly, to stop an object in motion, we need to apply an opposing force, which we also call a push or a pull. This opposing force counteracts the object’s inertia and causes it to decelerate until it comes to a stop.
In summary, the need to push or pull an object to start or stop it is a consequence of the fundamental property of inertia, which is a key principle in classical mechanics.
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