Newton's First Law Physics Example 2

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Example 2

medium
A hockey puck slides across a frictionless ice surface at 5 m/s5 \text{ m/s}. What is the puck's velocity after 10 seconds10 \text{ seconds}?

Solution

  1. 1
    Since the surface is frictionless, no net horizontal force acts on the puck.
  2. 2
    By Newton's first law (law of inertia), an object in motion continues at constant velocity when no net force acts on it.
  3. 3
    Therefore the puck's velocity remains v=5 m/sv = 5 \text{ m/s} after 1010 seconds.

Answer

v=5 m/sv = 5 \text{ m/s}
Newton's first law tells us that without a net force, there is no change in velocity. A frictionless surface means no force opposes the puck's motion.

About Newton's First Law

An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues moving at constant velocity in a straight line, unless acted upon by.

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Example 4 medium

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