Newton's First Law and Balanced Forces

Intro ImageSir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) is considered by many to be one of the most important contributors to our understanding of physics.  What did Newton do to earn such respect?

In this topic you will explore Newton’s First and Second Laws of motion and begin to appreciate how they provide insight into how forces can change the motion of objects.

Essential Questions:

  • What is inertia?
  • How can you use Newton’s First Law to calculate unknown forces when the net force is zero?
  • How do you calculate the force of friction?