Inertia is the force that holds the universe together. Literally. Without it, matter would lack the electric forces necessary to form its current arrangement. Inertia is counteracted by the heat and kinetic energy produced by moving particles.

8.6C Laws of Force and Motion An object at rest stays at rest or an object in motion stays in motion until unbalanced forces act upon it. This is often referred to as Newton's First Law of Motion. The tendency of a physical object to remain still or continue moving unless force is applied.

Inertia is the tendency of all objects to resist any change in motion. Inertia causes a moving object to stay in motion at the same velocity (speed and direction) unless a force acts on it to change its speed or direction. It also causes an object at rest to stay at rest.

Newton's first law: the law of inertia basketball; Newton's laws of motion. Newton's first law states that if a body is at rest or moving at a constant speed in a straight line, it will remain at rest or keep moving in a straight line at constant speed unless it is acted upon by a force.

Newton's First Law: Inertia Newton's first law states that every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force.