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Newton's Second Law:
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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 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, acceleration decreases as mass increases, and vice versa.
Details: Calculating acceleration is crucial in physics, engineering, and various real-world applications. It helps in understanding motion dynamics, designing vehicles and machinery, predicting object trajectories, and solving problems in mechanics and kinematics.
Tips: Enter 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 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: For a constant force, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. Doubling the mass halves the acceleration, and vice versa.
Q3: What is the relationship between force and acceleration?
A: Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied. Doubling the force doubles the acceleration, assuming mass remains constant.
Q4: Can this formula be used for any object?
A: Newton's Second Law applies to all classical mechanical systems, but may need modification for relativistic speeds or quantum scales.
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.