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This lesson covers inertia, the equation F = ma, and balanced and unbalanced forces, as required by the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification (1SC0). Newton's laws are the foundation for understanding how forces affect motion.
Newton's First Law states: An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a resultant force.
In simpler terms:
A book on a table: The weight of the book acts downward and the normal contact force acts upward. These forces are balanced (resultant = 0 N), so the book stays at rest.
A car at constant speed on a straight road: The driving force equals friction plus air resistance. The resultant force is zero, so the car continues at constant velocity.
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