Inertia Q: Which Frame of Ref Is Inertial?

[endaman95]

Homework Statement

Which of the following is an inertial frame of reference when the measuring sensitivity in not very high?
1. A frame of reference fixed to the Sun and its axes are pointing toward 3 other stars.
2.A frame of reference fixed to a laboratory table.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Im not sure about the sun. Any ideas?

 

[paisiello2]

Here is my understanding of what is meant by an inertial reference frame:

An inertial reference frame is one that is not accelerating, meaning it is not changing speed or direction.

All frames of reference are, at best, approximations to an inertial reference frame. The sun and the stars in the universe are not fixed and are all moving and accelerating. However, for practical purposes we can assume the Earth and the sun are good enough approximations to an inertial reference frame that we can usually ignore the small inertial forces associated with their movement.

 

[endaman95]

I was thinking the same thing. Thank you for the answer.

 

[berkeman]

Here is my understanding of what is meant by an inertial reference frame:

An inertial reference frame is one that is not accelerating, meaning it is not changing speed or direction.

All frames of reference are, at best, approximations to an inertial reference frame. The sun and the stars in the universe are not fixed and are all moving and accelerating. However, for practical purposes we can assume the Earth and the sun are good enough approximations to an inertial reference frame that we can usually ignore the small inertial forces associated with their movement.

Please remember not to do the student's homework for them. It is okay to provide hints, ask questions, suggest search terms, etc. But the student must do the bulk of the work on their schoolwork questions.

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

As a scientist, my response would be that both frames of reference can be considered inertial in this scenario. Inertial frames of reference are those in which Newton's first law of motion holds true, meaning that an object at rest will remain at rest and an object in motion will continue in a straight line at a constant speed unless acted upon by an external force. In both the frame of reference fixed to the Sun and the frame of reference fixed to a laboratory table, we can assume that the measuring sensitivity is not very high, meaning that the external forces acting on objects in these frames would not be significant enough to affect their motion. Therefore, both frames can be considered inertial in this scenario.