Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to enhance your readiness. Achieve success in your educator licensing!

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According to Isaac Newton's law of inertia, what happens to an object in motion?

It will slow down without any force
It will accelerate continuously
It will continue in its state of rest or motion unless acted upon by an outside force
It will eventually come to a complete stop

The correct answer is: It will continue in its state of rest or motion unless acted upon by an outside force

According to Isaac Newton's law of inertia, an object in motion will maintain its state of motion, as well as its state of rest, unless it is acted upon by an external force. This principle is fundamental to classical mechanics and describes the natural tendency of objects to resist changes to their state of motion. Inertia is what keeps an object moving in a straight line at a constant speed, or at rest, unless a net external force is applied. For example, a hockey puck sliding on ice will keep moving in a straight line at a constant velocity until friction (an external force) or another force (like a stick or the boards) acts on it. This law explains why objects do not just spontaneously speed up, slow down, or change direction without forces acting upon them. It emphasizes the inherent property of matter to remain in its existing state of motion, making it a key concept in understanding dynamics and the behavior of objects under the influence of forces.