In which direction would a moving object go if no force was acting on it? A. a wavy pattern B. a straight line C. a circle D. back and forth

The question revolves around Newton's First Law of Motion, which states that an object will remain at rest or continue to move in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by a net external force.

1. Understanding the Concept: When no external force is acting on an object in motion, it will not change its velocity, meaning it will not accelerate, decelerate, or change direction.

2. Applying to the Option Choices:

   • A. A wavy pattern: This would require forces acting on the object to create oscillations.
   • B. A straight line: This aligns with Newton's First Law, as the object would maintain its initial velocity in a straight path.
   • C. A circle: This motion requires a centripetal force acting towards the center, which would not be the case here.
   • D. Back and forth: This implies forces causing oscillation, which cannot occur without external influence.

Final Answer

B. a straight line.

Thus, in the absence of external forces, an object in motion will continue to travel in a straight line at a constant speed.