Short Answer 
Newton’s law of inertia explains that a golf ball remains on the tee due to its resistance to movement until an external force, like a club swing, acts upon it. This principle illustrates the basic relationship between motion and force applicable to all objects at rest.
Step 1: Understand Newton’s Law of Inertia
The reason a golf ball remains on the tee is explained by Newton’s law of inertia, also known as Newton’s First Law of Motion. This law states that an object that is stationary will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force. This principle is crucial for understanding how and why things move in our world.
Step 2: Recognize the Golf Ball’s Resting State
When a golf ball is placed on a tee, it remains still because its inertia resists change. Until a sufficient force is applied, the ball will not move. This means that it needs a force, like the swing of a golf club, to overcome its inertia and set it in motion:
- Resting State: The ball stays on the tee due to its inertia.
- External Force: Only when the golf club strikes it does the inertia get overcome.
Step 3: Apply Understanding to Motion
This principle not only applies to golf but also to other objects at rest. Understanding why a golf ball remains on the tee until hit showcases the fundamental nature of motion and force in physics. It emphasizes that any object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless disturbed by an external force.