Law of Inertia — Newton’s First Law

Since elementary school, we’ve been taught the importance of understanding physics in many areas of life. From understanding how heat travels through different kinds of mediums to solving forces acting upon two-dimensional boxes.

But as a kid, I often ask myself:

“Am I really going to work jobs that requires me to calculate the amount of force acted upon a box moving at a certain angle and be able to tell at what point the box would eventually reach a velocity and acceleration of absolute zero?”

I know right, crazy if we put it that way.

As a result, during my elementary school years, often times I struggled to comprehend in what ways would I apply physics and I was amazed how learning it would help me pay my rent in the future.

But as I grew older, I came to a realization that physics is not always about ‘solving forces on boxes’. In fact, it’s a field of study in which all matters interact. And by means of matter, I mean also us — humans.

A grasp understanding of a physics concept I learned in middle school remains pristine and carved inside my brain which I often apply not only in my work but also my personal life. And that is — Law of Inertia (Newton’s First Law).

I might sound nerdy but please bear with me with this one..

“An object at rest will remain at rest, unless acted upon a force…” — Newton’s First Law.

Assume a 10 kg box lays rest on a flat surface and needs to go to point B.

Based on the physics principle of inertia as stated in Newton’s First Law, any balanced matter that has mass will always maintain it’s position and will not move, unless acted on by a force.

What do I mean by ‘balanced matter’? It is in which all the forces on a matter cancel on each other, resulting a net force = 0 (meaning the box is not moving at all).

From the drawing above, a seemingly resting box peacefully laying on a flat surface apparently has forces working upon it which keeps it still, which are gravitational force and normal force.

Now, in order to make box move towards point B, let’s assume a force (Fɡ) is acted upon. Particularly an imbalanced force, resulting the box to move forward towards point B.

But as force (Fɡ) tries to push the box towards point B, there are other forces acting upon the box in three different opposing directions, making the box harder to move. In attempt to let Fɡ push the box easier towards point B, you either have to lower the gravitational force, lower the friction force or increase the force (Fɡ).

Now, imagine if you were that box..

And the force (Fɡ) is the force of god or in other words, god’s will. Willing to change you by moving you into another chapter of your life. And the three other opposing forces are your doubts, insecurities & ego weighing you down.

Most of the time, the way god tests you is by putting you in situations that requires faith. The way to do so is to let go of your opposing forces — your doubts, insecurities or ego and trust in His plan because sometimes it’s god’s way in changing course of your life for betterment.

So, in facing the mechanism of life, embrace change and let Him guide you. Even if it seems hard to embrace, it might possibly be a way of attracting growth, fulfillment and new opportunities in your life.