inertial frame

American  

[in-ur-shuhl fraym] / ɪnˈɜr ʃəl ˈfreɪm /

noun

1. Physics. Also called inertial frame of reference. a frame of reference in which a body remains at rest or in uniform motion until acted upon by an external force.

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inertial frame Scientific  

1. A reference frame in which the observers are not subject to any accelerating force. In Special Relativity, time measurements in inertial frames that are not at rest with respect to each other are not equivalent; each inertial frame must have its own time coordinate, the value of which is the time as read off a standard clock at rest in that frame.

2. Also called inertial frame of reference inertial reference frame, inertial system

3. Compare non-inertial frame See also Special Relativity

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Example Sentences

An inertial frame of reference is one in which all forces are real and, equivalently, one in which Newton’s laws have the simple forms given in this chapter.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Up until now, we have considered Earth to be an inertial frame of reference with little or no worry about effects due to its rotation.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The crucial factor in determining whether a frame of reference is inertial is whether it accelerates or rotates relative to a known inertial frame.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Earth’s rotation is slow enough that Earth is nearly an inertial frame.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

This allows us to view the motion as if M were stationary—in fact, as if from an inertial frame of reference placed on M —without significant error.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015