Which of the following represents Newton’s first law of motion?

Newton’s first law of motion states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by a net external force. This concept underscores the idea of inertia, which is the tendency of objects to resist changes in their state of motion.

The correct choice captures the essence of this law by emphasizing the condition that an object will not change its state of motion (whether at rest or moving) without an external influence. It illustrates that objects naturally maintain their state unless disrupted, making it fundamental in understanding the behavior of physical systems.

This principle laid the groundwork for further exploration of dynamics, helping to define how forces result in changes to motion.