What term describes the property that helps a flywheel resist small changes in speed?

The term that describes the property helping a flywheel resist small changes in speed is inertia. Inertia is a fundamental property of matter, which is defined as the tendency of an object to maintain its state of motion, whether that be at rest or in uniform motion, unless acted upon by an external force.

In the context of a flywheel, its inertia allows it to maintain a consistent rotational speed, thus resisting any minor disruptions in its motion caused by fluctuations in load or supplied energy. This characteristic ensures that the flywheel can absorb energy during acceleration and release it during deceleration, contributing to a smoother operation in mechanical systems.

Understanding inertia is crucial in fields such as engineering and physics, as it directly relates to the principles of motion and energy conservation in rotating systems.