Physics · Glossary

What is Inertial reference frame?

Definition 25.2 High School Physics · Chapter 25 — Newton’s Laws

An inertial reference frame is one in which every isolated body — no forces, or forces that compensate — moves in a straight line at constant velocity (Chapter 6). The ground is one to excellent accuracy, and so is any cabin in uniform straight-line motion over it; a braking train or turning carousel is not: there, loose luggage accelerates unpushed.

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