Question

unit 2 test: forces and motion (10/15)
which statement describes what a bowling ball that is standing still on a table will do?
it will start to move on its own and then fall off.
it will remain still because it has too much inertia to move.
it will accelerate on its own if left alone.
it will not move unless acted on by another force.

Explanation:

According to Newton's first law of motion (the law of inertia), an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. A bowling ball standing still on a table is at rest. Inertia is a property of matter (not a force that "prevents" motion - an object's inertia just means it resists changes to its state of motion). So, it won't start moving or accelerating on its own.

Answer:

It will not move unless acted on by another force.