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Which statement is Newton's first law of motion?
AA body accelerates in proportion to the net force on it
BA body exerts a force equal and opposite to any it feels
CA body attracts every other body with a force set by their masses
DA body at rest or in steady motion stays so unless a net external force acts
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. A body at rest or in steady motion stays so unless a net external force acts
1. Newton's first law says a body at rest remains at rest, or if in motion remains in motion at constant velocity.
2. That state changes only when a net external force acts on it.
3. Acceleration proportional to net force is the second law, not the first.
4. Equal and opposite forces on two bodies is the third law.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Dynamics: Force and Newton's Laws of Motion", section 4.2 Newton's First Law of Motion: Inertia_
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