Home
Back
Newton's Second Law:
| From: | To: |
Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This fundamental principle describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in classical mechanics.
The calculator uses Newton's second law equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that for a constant mass, acceleration increases linearly with force, while for a constant force, acceleration decreases as mass increases.
Details: Calculating acceleration is essential in physics, engineering, and various applications including vehicle design, sports science, robotics, and space exploration. It helps predict motion and design systems that require precise control of movement.
Tips: Enter force in newtons and mass in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared.
Q1: What is the SI unit for acceleration?
A: The SI unit for acceleration is meters per second squared (m/s²), which represents the change in velocity per unit time.
Q2: How does mass affect acceleration?
A: According to Newton's second law, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. A larger mass requires more force to achieve the same acceleration.
Q3: What is the difference between mass and weight?
A: Mass is the amount of matter in an object (measured in kg), while weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass (measured in newtons).
Q4: Can this calculator be used for rotational motion?
A: No, this calculator is for linear acceleration. Rotational motion requires torque and moment of inertia calculations using different equations.
Q5: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: When multiple forces act on an object, you must calculate the net force (vector sum of all forces) before using this equation.