Newton’s Laws of Motion, Definitions with Examples

Newton’s laws of motion are a set of three fundamental principles that describe the relationship between an object’s motion and the forces acting on it.

Here is a brief explanation of each of the three laws, along with Examples to help the concepts.

Newton’s First Law: The Law of Inertia

Newton’s first law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion with a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

In other words, objects will continue to do what they are already doing unless something changes that state of motion.

Examples

An example of Newton’s First Law is a book resting on a table. The book is at rest, and it will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the external force could be a person picking up the book, the table collapsing, or the book being pushed off the table. The book will not move by itself, due to its own inertia.

book on the table

Another example of Newton’s First Law;

Imagine a car driving down a straight road at a constant speed. The car will continue to move at the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an external force. If the driver suddenly applies the brakes, the car will slow down and eventually come to a stop because the brakes provide a force that opposes the car’s motion. Similarly, if the car hits an obstacle, such as a tree or a wall, it will come to a sudden stop because the obstacle provides a force that opposes the car’s motion. However, in the absence of any external force, the car will continue to move with a constant velocity due to its own inertia.

Newton’s Second Law: The Law of Acceleration

Newton’s second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it, and inversely proportional to its mass. In other words, the greater the force acting on an object, the greater its acceleration, and the greater its mass, the smaller its acceleration for a given force.

Examples

Imagine pushing a shopping cart at a grocery store. If you push the cart with a small amount of force, it will move slowly. However, if you push the cart with a larger force, it will move more quickly. This is because the acceleration of the shopping cart is directly proportional to the net force acting on it, as described by Newton’s Second Law.

Newton's second law on pushing a shopping cart

Read More: What Is Force? – Definition, Formula, Unit, Types

Newton’s Third Law: The Law of Action and Reaction

Newton’s third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, when one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object. This is often summarized as “every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”

Examples

When a ball is thrown against a wall, the ball exerts a force on the wall in the forward direction. According to Newton’s Third Law, the wall exerts an equal and opposite force on the ball in the backward direction. This reaction force causes the ball to bounce off the wall and change direction.

When a ball is thrown against a wall, the ball exerts a force on the wall in the forward direction
Action→ Wall ←Reaction

Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton was an English physicist and mathematician widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history. He is known for his work in the fields of physics, optics and mathematics and for his development of the three laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation.

FAQ

  1. Can Newton’s Laws of Motion be applied in everyday life?

    Yes, Newton’s Laws of Motion Can Be Applied in Everyday Life. For Example, They Can Be Used to Explain How a Car Accelerates and How a Ball Bounces. They Are Also Important for Sports, Such as Throwing a Ball, Running, Or Jumping, And for Activities Like Riding a Bike or Skateboarding.

  2. Can Newton’s Laws of Motion be applied in outer space?

    Yes, Newton’s Laws of Motion can be applied in outer space. In fact, they were first developed to explain the behavior of objects in space, such as the motion of planets and moons.

  3. Why is it easier to push a shopping cart than to pull it?

    It is easier to push a shopping cart than to pull it because when you push it, you are applying a force in the direction of the motion, which increases the speed of the cart. When you pull the cart, the force is applied at an angle, which results in a component of the force pulling the cart sideways instead of forward, making it harder to move.

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