Inertia is that property of a body by virtue of which the body is

Options

A. unable to change by itself the state of rest
B. unable to change by itself the state of uniform motion
C. unable to change by itself the direction of motion
D. unable to change by itself the state of rest and of uniform linear motion

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Inertia**: Inertia is a fundamental property of matter. It is defined as the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will continue to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.

2. **Opposition to Change**: The key aspect of inertia is its opposition to change. If a body is at rest (for example, not moving), it will remain at rest unless a force causes it to move. Similarly, if a body is moving with a constant velocity (for example, moving straight at a speed of 10 m/s), it will continue to move at that speed and in that direction unless a force acts on it.

3. **Newton's First Law of Motion**: This concept of inertia is encapsulated in Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object will not change its state of motion (whether at rest or in uniform motion) unless a net external force acts on it. This law is often referred to as the law of inertia.

4. **Conclusion**: Therefore, inertia is the property of a body that resists changes to its state of rest or uniform linear motion. It is a measure of how much an object will resist changes in its motion.

**Final Statement**: Inertia is that property of a body by virtue of which the body is unable to change its state of rest or uniform linear motion unless acted upon by an external force.

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