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POGIL: Newtons First Law of Motion In this POGIL we will look at Newtons first law of motion. This law is useful for explaining why objects stay at rest or move at constant velocity. Newtons First Law of Motion Newtons First Law of Motion states the following: An object maintains its state of motion unless it is acted upon by a net force. By state of motion, Isaac Newton was referring to what we call velocity. The law tells us that an object at rest will stay at rest if the net force on it is zero. It also tells us that an object will move with constant velocity if the net force on it is zero. 1. The diagrams below show several people pushing on some boxes labeled A, B, and C. Assume the boxes are in free space and there is no friction. 16 N 4N 20 N A 20 N 10 N 12 N 16 N (a) Suppose all of the boxes are initially at rest. Which ones will remain at rest? Justify your answer. B 14 N 8N 20 N C

(b) Suppose all of the boxes are moving. Which ones will move in a straight line at constant speed? Justify your answer.

2. Each of the boxes below is moving to the right at 5 m/s. Draw arrows to show the direction of the force(s) needed for the box to keep moving to the right at 5 m/s. Write the magnitude of each force next to the arrow. (a) 20 N (b) 2N 14 N

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(c) 6N 13 N 6N

(d) 7N 11 N

3. Can an object be moving if the net force on it is zero? Explain.

4. Can an object be at rest if there are forces exerted on it? Explain.

Problem Solving 5. Look at a book resting on a table. Suppose the book weighs 10 N. (a) What is the net force on the book?

(b) There must be a second force that acts on the book. How do we know this?

(c) What must be the magnitude and direction of this second force?

(d) What type of force is this second force?

(e) What agent exerts this second force?

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6. In the picture below, a rocket moves upward at a constant velocity of 120 m/s. The gravitational force on it is 1000 N.

U S A

(a) What is the agent that exerts the gravitational force on the rocket.

(b) What is the net force on the rocket?

(c) Why must there be a second force, in addition to the gravitational force, exerted on the rocket?

(d) What must be the magnitude and direction of this second force that pushes on the rocket?

(e) What agent exerts this second force?