Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Newt.html http://zonalandeducation.com/mstm/physics/mechanics/forces/galileo/galileoInertia.html 3 Laws of Motion Galileo and Inertia Back Forces Mechanics Physics Contents Index Home Inertia is the tendency of matter to resist changes in its velocity. Inertia is a property of matter. It is that property of matter which opposes changes in velocity. Simply stated, a common object will not change its velocity spontaneously. If something is moving along at a constant speed in a straight line, it will continue to move along at the same constant speed in the same straight line. It will not, all on its own, speed up, slow down, or change direction. Something else must push on the object to speed it up, slow it down, or change its direction. Also, if something is standing still, it will, if left to itself, continue to stand still. Something else must push on an object to get it moving. Actually, an object standing still is just a special case of an object keeping its velocity constant. Its velocity is constantly 0 m/s.