According to Newton's Second Law, which statement is true?

According to Newton's Second Law, which statement is true?

• A. Acceleration is proportional to net force and inversely proportional to mass
• B. Acceleration is independent of force
• C. Acceleration is proportional to mass and inversely to net force
• D. The speed of an object is constant when force is applied

Answer: (A)

Newton's second law says that the acceleration of an object equals the net force acting on it divided by its mass, expressed as a = F/m. This means the acceleration grows when the net force is larger and shrinks when the mass is larger. For a given net force, heavier objects accelerate more slowly; for a given mass, pushing harder (greater net force) makes the object accelerate more. The acceleration also points in the same direction as the net force. So the statement that acceleration is proportional to net force and inversely proportional to mass matches a = F/m. The idea that acceleration is independent of force is false, since changing the net force changes acceleration. The notion that acceleration is proportional to mass and inversely to net force is the opposite of the correct relationship. And the speed of an object is constant when a force is applied only if the net force is zero or if the motion happens under special conditions; a nonzero net force produces acceleration and changes speed over time.

Newton's second law says that the acceleration of an object equals the net force acting on it divided by its mass, expressed as a = F/m. This means the acceleration grows when the net force is larger and shrinks when the mass is larger. For a given net force, heavier objects accelerate more slowly; for a given mass, pushing harder (greater net force) makes the object accelerate more. The acceleration also points in the same direction as the net force.

So the statement that acceleration is proportional to net force and inversely proportional to mass matches a = F/m. The idea that acceleration is independent of force is false, since changing the net force changes acceleration. The notion that acceleration is proportional to mass and inversely to net force is the opposite of the correct relationship. And the speed of an object is constant when a force is applied only if the net force is zero or if the motion happens under special conditions; a nonzero net force produces acceleration and changes speed over time.