Browse Questions

Which of the following statements is MOST correct?

a) It is possible for an object to have motion in the absence of forces on the object.
(b) It is possible to have forces on an object in the absence of motion of the object.
(c) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct.
(d) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

Toolbox:
• Newton's first law states that when viewed in an inertial reference frame, an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force.
Answer: (D) Both (A) and (B) are correct
(A) It is possible for an object to have motion in the absence of forces on the object. This can be TRUE.
Here is an example: You kick a smooth flat stone out on a frozen pond. The stone slides, slows down, and eventually stops.
(B) It is possible to have forces on an object in the absence of motion of the object. This can be TRUE as well.
Here is an example: A book is lying at rest on a table. The book will remain there at rest so we can have both the downward gravitational force and the upward force from the table even though the book is stationary.
Therefore, both (A) and (B) are correct.
edited Aug 19, 2014