Question

1. which of newtons laws of motion explains why objects will sit on a table for a long period of time?

newtons second law of motion
newtons third law of motion
newtons fourth law of motion
newtons first law of motion

Explanation:

Newton's first law of motion (the law of inertia) states that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. Objects sitting on a table are at rest. The force of gravity acts downward on the object, and the table exerts an equal and opposite normal force upward (this is related to Newton's third law, but the key for the object remaining at rest is the first law). Since there is no net external force (the gravitational force and normal force cancel each other out), the object remains at rest on the table for a long period of time. Newton's second law is about the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration ($F = ma$). Newton's fourth law does not exist.

Answer:

Newton's first law of motion