PHYSICS FORM 4

INERTIA
OBJECTIVES
To know the exactly definition of inertia.
To analyze the relationship between
inertia and mass.
To understand the effects of inertia in
daily life experience.

MENU
Definition of inertia
Relationship between mass inertia and mass.
Effect of inertia in our daily life
Quiz
Reference
When the cardboard covering the
glass is pulled out quickly, what will
happens to the coin?
ANSWER
When the cardboard covering the
glass is pulled out quickly, the coin
resting on the cardboard drops into
the glass
What will happen to the
rest of the coins when one
of the coin is moved out
quickly?

ANSWER
The inertia of the coins
maintains it in its original
position (at rest) even
when one of the coin is
moved out quickly

INERTIA
Inertia is the property of matter
that cause it to resist any
change in its motion or state of
rest

resistmenentang/ melawan
If an object is moving.
Initially :The car & driver are moving together
suddenly : car stops suddenly
driver continue moving forward
The inertia of the driver resists the change in
its motion-thus he was thrown forward
It tends to stay in that position
unless some force puts that
object into motion
If an object is at rest

Inertia is not physical quantity and
thus it does not have units
The property of inertia is found from
the Newtons first law of motion
Newtons First Law of Motion
"An object at rest tends to stay at rest and
an object in motion the same speed and
in the same direction tends to stay in
motion with unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force"
1
st
actv
The coin is in the state of rest
When the cardboard is pulled quickly,
the cardboard moving together with
the hand
But the inertia of the coin cause it to
remain at rest and thus it falls into
the cup
The inertia of the coin resists the
change in its motion
The tendency of an object to
remain at rest or, if moving, to
continue its uniform motion in a
straight line.
WHAT IS INERTIA
2
nd
actv
The bus & passengers are moving together
when the bus stops suddenly, the inertia
of each passenger maintain its motion
which is moving forward.
Thats why the passengers were
thrown forward
The inertia of the passengers
resists the change in its motion
Mass can influence
the effects of
inertia.
An object with a larger
mass has a larger
inertia.
mass
inertia
EXPERIMENT OF INERTIA
Inference : The Period of oscillation depends on
the mass of plasticine.
Hypothesis : the greater the mass of
plasticine,the longer the period of oscillation
Aim : To investigate the relationship between
the Period of oscillation and the mass of
plasticine
Variable :
-manipulated : Mass of plasticine
-responding : Period of oscillation
-constant : Angle of displacement/
length of saw blade

Experiment of Inertia
2. Plasticine of mass of 10 g was weighed using
electronic balance
1. The apparatus was set up as shown in the
diagram
3. The plasticine was fixed to the free end of
saw blade.
4. The plasticine was displaced horizontally and
released to make it oscillates.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE
MANIPULATED VARIABLE
Experiment of Inertia
6.Step 5 was repeated and the average time for
the same mass of plasticine was calculated.
5. The time taken for 10 complete oscillations
was measured using stopwatch and recorded.
REPEATING THE EXPERIMENT
7. The experiment was repeated for mass of
plasticine of 40 g, 60 g, 80 g and 100 g.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE
RESPONDING VARIABLE
Table for recording data
Mass of
plasticine
m (g)
Time taken for 10 complete
swings, t (s)
Period of
oscillation,
T = t
1
+t
2
10 (s)
2

T
2
/ s
2
t
1
t
2

t
1
+ t
2
2
10
20
30
40
50
Then plot graph of T
2
against m.
T
2
/ s
2
m / g

Graph of T2 against m
CONCLUSION :
From the graph, T
2
is directly proportional to m.
The hypothesis is accepted.
T
2
/ s
2
m / g

Graph of T2 against m
CONCLUSION :
From the graph, T
2
is increase linearly with m. The
hypothesis is accepted.
Interpreting data
Find the value of T when m = 45 g
T
2
/ s
2
m / g

45
0.33
*** intrapolation
If m = 45 g then T
2
= 0.33 s
2
YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE EXPLANATION
ABOUT THIS???
CLICK ON THE VIDEO
If the motorcycle were to abruptly stop, then the rider in
motion would continue in motion. The rider would likely
be propelled from the motorcycle and be hurled into the
air. Once they leave the motorcycle, the rider becomes a
projectile and continues in projectile-like motion. It is
because of inertia.

Applications of inertia
Some examples of using inertia in our daily life are :

1. To tighten the loose head of a hammer
To tighten the loose head of a hammer, knock one end of
the handle held vertically, on a hard surface.
The hammer head will continue on its downward motion
when the handle has been stopped, the top end of the
handle is slotted deeper into the hammer head.

2. Drying off the wet fur of cats and dogs.
Cats and dogs dry their wet fur by shaking their body
vigorously.
Water droplets on the fur tend to continue in motion when the
body has stopped shaking.
water droplets will be separated from the fur and fall away

3. To dislodge chili sauce from the bottle
Chili sauce in a bottle is poured out by a quick downward
movement of the bottle followed by a sudden stop.
The sauce in the bottle moves with the bottle during the
downward movement.
When bottle is stopped, the inertia of the sauce causes it to
continue on its downward movement and thus the sauce is
forced out of the bottle.

4. Passengers are thrown forward when a bus
moving bus stops suddenly
5. Passengers are hurled backward when a stationary
bus move suddenly.
When a student is riding a
bicycle and runs over a
stone, he is thrown forward.
Why does this happen?
ANSWER
THE INERTIA OF THE
STUDENT MAINTAINS HIS
FORWARD MOTION SO
THAT HE IS THROWN
FORWARD WHEN HIS
BICYCLE IS MOMENTARILY
STOPPED BY THE STONE
References
FOCUS SUPER HOT SPM PHYSICS- S.L
Chang, Koay Kheng Chuan, Yew Kok Leh.
Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd.