During a science exhibition, a student presents three separate demonstrations to explain Newton’s First Law of Motion.
1. A coin is placed on a stiff card that rests on the mouth of a glass. The card is struck sharply sideways so that the coin drops into the glass.
2. A rolling steel ball continues to move on a long, smooth track until it reaches a rough patch where it quickly slows down.
3. A bus moving at a uniform speed suddenly applies brakes, causing passengers to pitch forward.
a. (i) For each demonstration (1), (2) and (3), identify whether it illustrates inertia of rest or inertia of motion. Write your answers in a table format.
b. (ii) For each case, describe in 2–3 sentences the sequence of events that leads to the observed outcome, explicitly linking the behaviour of the object to Newton’s First Law.
c. (iii) Combine the insights from all three demonstrations to formulate a general statement, in your own words, that summarises the concept of inertia and its two main types.
d. (iv) Propose one additional everyday activity (not mentioned above) that could serve as a classroom demonstration of the same principle. Describe the setup and predict the expected observation, specifying the type of inertia involved.