Question by Wyatt~: Physics Questions about Newton’s Laws Help?
I just have around 7 basic questions about Newton’s Laws.
Please explain them, and Solve them, Because I am clueless.

1. Which law is in control of a spacecraft which cruises through space at a constant speed without using any fuel?

2. Which law governs when a tablecloth is pulled out from under a setting of china without damaging it?

3. Which law governs why a car is set in motion and not the asphalt highway on which it travels?

4. Which law allows a spaceship to accelerate by burning rocket fuel?

5. Which law relates acceleration to mass?

6. Which law governs when two skaters push apart in a rink?

7. Which law governs why a golf ball will go farther than a baseball if each are hit with the same amount of force?

Best answer:

Answer by Physica Mathematica
1. Which law is in control of a spacecraft which cruises through space at a constant speed without using any fuel?

Newton’s First Law- object in motion (straight line) stays in motion

2. Which law governs when a tablecloth is pulled out from under a setting of china without damaging it?

Newton’s First Law- objects at rest tend to stay at rest

3. Which law governs why a car is set in motion and not the asphalt highway on which it travels?

Actually the problem is flawed. For the most part the car moves forward over the road, but to a very slight extent the highway moves backwards under the car (Newton’s Third Law)

4. Which law allows a spaceship to accelerate by burning rocket fuel?

Newton’s Second Law – Force = mass times acceleration

5. Which law relates acceleration to mass?

Newton’s Second Law – Force = mass times acceleration

6. Which law governs when two skaters push apart in a rink?

Newton’s Third Law – for every force or action there is a force or reaction in the opposite direction of equal magnitude– they should have worded this more carefully, and said something like “if one of the ice skaters pushes against the other, they both move opposite one to the other.
To some extent we should mention Newton’s Second Law because although both get the same force, the one with less mass will accelerate more than the other.

7. Which law governs why a golf ball will go farther than a baseball if each are hit with the same amount of force?

Newton’s Second Law – Force equals mass times acceleration

To some extent this exercise could be a problem. Although I feel I captured the intent, a student might leave this thinking that different “Newton Laws” apply to different problems.

All 3 laws are always in play — they don’t “pick and choose” or “take turns”.

Cheers!

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