Submitted by KWOOOSH t3_11ibnpv in askscience
KWOOOSH OP t1_jazssww wrote
Reply to comment by mutandis57 in How is it that objects in equilibrium stay in motion at constant velocity? by KWOOOSH
But what keeps the train moving? I know the answer to this question is inertia, but intuitively it makes sense that there must be some force that is making the object continue to move, even at a constant velocity. I guess a better question is do we know why objects with no net force can remain in motion? Like, it makes sense to me that when net force = 0 = no net movement, but not the constant velocity part.
call_me_mahdi t1_jb0zanx wrote
I read almost all your replies Kwooosh, the keyword you are using is "intuitively". The problem is that since we lived our whole life on earth where friction happens all the time this make sense for this topic to feel counter-intuitive. Newton law is a mathematical model and it could be counter-intuitive sometimes.
Coomb t1_jb17zvk wrote
>But what keeps the train moving? I know the answer to this question is inertia, but intuitively it makes sense that there must be some force that is making the object continue to move, even at a constant velocity. I guess a better question is do we know why objects with no net force can remain in motion? Like, it makes sense to me that when net force = 0 = no net movement, but not the constant velocity part.
Why is it that when you're standing inside a train (or airplane or car) moving at constant speed, you move along with the train without having to constantly horizontally push on the floor?
According to your reasoning, you're moving at constant velocity and that means you need to be pushing on something to keep moving forward. But actually you don't have to push on anything. Does that tell you anything about your intuition with respect to motion in different frames of reference?
You may also want to contrast this experience with your experience on something like a merry-go-round, where you know that unless you are actively exerting force against a pole or something else on the merry-go-round, you'll fall off. Do you know what the key difference between these situations is?
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