What does the term 'inertia' refer to in Newton's First Law?

Get ready for the SIFT Mechanical Comprehension Test with engaging flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations to optimize learning. Excel in your exam preparation!

The concept of inertia, as defined by Newton's First Law of Motion, refers to the property of matter that causes it to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

The correct answer encapsulates both aspects of inertia: the tendency of an object to remain at rest (the first part) and the tendency of an object to continue moving (the second part). Thus, stating that inertia includes the resistance to both changes in motion and the states of rest or motion effectively summarizes its definition. Inertia is fundamentally about maintaining the status quo—whether that status is at rest or in motion—until influenced by an external force.

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