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Law: a well established idea in science and one that can be used in many ways.

Mass: is used to describe how much matter is in an object. If you know the number of atoms, the density of the atoms, and what type of atoms are in an object you can calculate its mass.

Newton's Three Laws of Motion

Here you will find the precise technical term for each of Newton's Laws of Motion. You will also find the easier to understand version of these laws.

1. Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.

funny eyes

What was that? Look at it this way.

Things only change motion if there is a force acting on them. Such as pushing or pulling.

 2. The acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the net force acting on the body and inversely proportional to the mass of the body and is in the direction of the net force.

funny eyes

What? Think of it this way.

refrig

The amount of change in motion is less for big things than for small things. The second law says it is easier to push the empty cardboard box your refrigerator came in than the refrigerator.

3. Whenever one body exerts a force on a second body, the second body exerts an equal and opposite force on the first.

funny eyes

In other words... You cannot push on an object without that object pushing on you.

Sometimes this law is explained as "to every action there is always an opposed equal reaction."

View Citation

You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Sir Isaac Newton: Three Laws of Motion
  • Author(s): CJ Kazilek, Kim Cooper
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: December 17, 2009
  • Date accessed: March 24, 2024
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/newtons-three-laws-motion

APA Style

CJ Kazilek, Kim Cooper. (2009, December 17). Sir Isaac Newton: Three Laws of Motion. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved March 24, 2024 from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/newtons-three-laws-motion

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

CJ Kazilek, Kim Cooper. "Sir Isaac Newton: Three Laws of Motion". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 17 December, 2009. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/newtons-three-laws-motion

MLA 2017 Style

CJ Kazilek, Kim Cooper. "Sir Isaac Newton: Three Laws of Motion". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 17 Dec 2009. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. 24 Mar 2024. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/newtons-three-laws-motion

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
Newton apple falling

Besides his well known work on gravity, Newton also added to our knowledge of mathematics and physics.

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