Inertia is an elusive concept in physics, and it is occasionally used to explain similar-seeming yet different concepts. The goal of this article is to describe two scenarios that are commonly explained using the word inertia, even though that same word is being used to describe two different phenomena. A discussion clearing up this ambiguity follows the examples.
REFERENCES
1.
“
Bill Nye the Science Guy S05E20 Motion
,” https://youtube/eT4n3dzkG3w.2.
Physics Lecture Demonstrations, with some problems and puzzles, too. Compiled and annotated by Donald Simanek
, https://www.lockhaven.edu/∼dsimanek/scenario/demos.htm.Additional Resources
1.
Charles W.
Camp
and John J.
Clement
, Preconceptions in Mechanics. Lessons Dealing with Students’ Conceptual Difficulties
, 2nd ed. (AIP Publishing
, 2010
), Chaps. 7 and 8.2.
E.
Hecht
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,” Phys. Teach.
44
, 40
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J.
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” Online at stacks.iop.org/EJP/26/.4.
D.
Lincoln
, “How things get heavy: The nature of mass
,” Phys. Teach.
55
, 401
(Oct.
2017
).© 2020 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2020
American Association of Physics Teachers
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