NREMT Paramedic Practice

What principle states that an object in rest or motion will remain in that state until acted upon by an outside force?

1. Newton's Second Law of Motion

2. Newton's Third Law of Motion

3. Conservation of Energy Law

4. Newton's First Law of Motion

The correct answer is: Newton's Second Law of Motion

The correct principle that describes an object in rest or motion maintaining that state until acted upon by an outside force is Newton's First Law of Motion. This law, often referred to as the law of inertia, states that an object will continue to be in its current state of motion (which can include being at rest) unless acted upon by a net external force. This principle underlines the concept of inertia, where the state of an object does not change without the influence of forces. In the context of the other choices, Newton's Second Law of Motion relates to the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, formally stated as F=ma. Newton's Third Law of Motion is based on the principle that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, which emphasizes interactions between two objects. The Conservation of Energy Law pertains to the principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. Each of these laws serves its purpose in the realm of physics but does not specifically address the concept of inertia as thoroughly as Newton's First Law does.