According to the law of motion, what happens to objects in motion?

The principle that describes the behavior of objects in motion is articulated in Newton's First Law of Motion, often referred to as the law of inertia. This law states that an object will remain in a state of uniform motion (meaning it will move in a straight line at a constant speed) unless it is influenced by a net external force. This principle emphasizes the natural tendency of objects to resist changes to their state of motion.

For instance, if you slide a book on a smooth surface, it will continue to slide in the same direction and at the same speed until forces such as friction or air resistance act on it, causing it to slow down and eventually stop. This understanding is fundamental in physics and helps explain various phenomena in both everyday life and technical applications.

This concept is crucial, as it illustrates that motion is not an absolute state that requires constant energy input; rather, motion can be maintained without ongoing force, challenging common assumptions about moving objects.