When an object like a ball changes direction or is stopped, this is caused by inertia. Specifically, inertia is the when an object continues in its same path and it won’t stop moving until another force causes it stop moving or change directions. The history of inertia began hundreds of years ago during 335 BC or a few years later. Aristotle is believed to have come in contact with the theory of inertia.
With his concept of motion, Aristotle described his idea that sometimes objects may become projectiles. These projectiles will continue to move unless they come to rest or some outside force causes it to stop or change directions. Other scientists continued and built on this idea including Jean Buridan.
