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Newton's Second Law Formula:
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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 relates force, mass, and acceleration in classical mechanics.
The calculator uses Newton's Second Law formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula shows that for a constant mass, acceleration increases with increasing force, and for a constant force, acceleration decreases with increasing mass.
Details: Calculating acceleration is essential in physics, engineering, and various practical applications including vehicle design, sports science, and space exploration. It helps predict motion and design systems that require specific acceleration characteristics.
Tips: Enter force in newtons and mass in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the resulting acceleration in meters per second squared.
Q1: What is the unit of acceleration?
A: Acceleration is measured in 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 N).
Q4: Can this formula be used for any object?
A: This formula applies to objects with constant mass moving at speeds much slower than light. For relativistic speeds or variable mass systems, different equations are needed.
Q5: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: Use the net force (vector sum of all forces) in the calculation. The direction of acceleration will be the same as the direction of the net force.