AFOQT Practice Test

What does Newton's First Law state?

1. An object at rest will stay at rest unless acted on by a balanced force

2. An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force

3. All objects experience gravitational attraction

4. For every action, there is a significant reaction

The correct answer is: An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force

Newton's First Law, also known as the law of inertia, articulates that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in its motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This principle underscores that the natural tendency of objects is to maintain their current state of motion, whether that means staying still or moving in a straight line. The emphasis on "unbalanced force" highlights the necessity for a force that is not countered by other forces acting on the object; otherwise, its state remains unchanged. The other options do not accurately reflect the essence of Newton's First Law. The notion of balanced forces does not apply in this context, as they would not change the state of an object. The statement regarding gravitational attraction pertains to a different aspect of physics altogether. Lastly, the assertion about action and reaction relates to Newton's Third Law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, rather than the inertia represented in the First Law.