inertial reference frame

An inertial reference frame is a perspective or viewpoint where objects either remain at rest or move in a straight line at constant speed unless acted upon by external forces. In such frames, Newton’s laws of motion hold true naturally, meaning no extra force or acceleration is needed to explain an object’s movement. Imagine floating in space far from gravitational influences—if you’re not pushing or pulling, you’ll stay still or continue moving smoothly. These frames are important because they provide a consistent baseline for analyzing motion without the need to account for accelerations or external forces.