Which of the following statements includes all the essential elements of Newton's first law?
A)A body at rest persists in its state of rest unless acted on by a non-zero net external force.
B)A body persists in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line as long as the net external force remains constant.
C)For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
D)A body persists in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted on by a non-zero net external force.
E)The acceleration of a body is proportional to the net external force acting on it and to the mass of the body.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Newton's first law states that a body persists in its state of rest or of uniform motion in a straight line unless acted on by a non-zero net external force. This statement includes all the essential elements of Newton's first law, namely, the concept of inertia, the reference to motion, and the role of external forces. The other statements are either incomplete, unrelated, or pertain to other laws of motion.

Which of the Following Statements Includes All the Essential Elements