Which term refers to a measure of an object's resistance to change in its rate of rotation?

The term that refers to a measure of an object's resistance to change in its rate of rotation is moment of inertia. Moment of inertia quantifies how the mass of an object is distributed with respect to the axis of rotation. The greater the distance the mass is from the axis of rotation, the larger the moment of inertia, meaning more torque (or effort) is required to change its state of rotation. This principle is crucial in understanding rotational dynamics in physics and sports science, as it explains how athletes can manipulate their bodies or equipment to achieve optimal performance in activities like gymnastics or diving.

Mass, while it plays a role in calculating moment of inertia, does not directly measure resistance to rotational change. Velocity pertains to the speed and direction of an object's movement but does not address how resistance to rotation is measured. Force is a vector quantity that causes an object to accelerate but is not a measure of resistance in the context of rotational motion. Therefore, moment of inertia is the appropriate term for describing an object's resistance to changes in its rotational state.