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 acceleration of an object is equal to the net force applied divided by the mass of the object. This means that for a constant force, heavier objects accelerate slower than lighter objects.
Details: Calculating acceleration from force and mass is essential in physics, engineering, and various practical applications including vehicle design, sports science, and space exploration. It helps predict how objects will move under different force conditions.
Tips: Enter net force in Newtons (N) and mass in kilograms (kg). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q1: What is net force?
A: Net force is the vector sum of all forces acting on an object. It represents the overall force that causes acceleration.
Q2: Why does mass affect acceleration?
A: Mass represents the inertia of an object - its resistance to changes in motion. More mass means more resistance to acceleration for the same force.
Q3: What are typical acceleration values?
A: Earth's gravity causes 9.8 m/s² acceleration. Cars accelerate at 3-8 m/s², while rockets can exceed 20 m/s² during launch.
Q4: Does this work for all situations?
A: This equation applies to classical mechanics at speeds much slower than light. For relativistic speeds or quantum scales, different equations apply.
Q5: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: Calculate the vector sum of all forces to find the net force, then use that value in the equation.