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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 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 from force and mass is essential in physics, engineering, automotive design, aerospace, and many practical applications where motion dynamics need to be analyzed and predicted.
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 difference between mass and weight?
A: Mass is the amount of matter in an object (kg), while weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass (N). Weight = mass × gravitational acceleration.
Q2: Can this formula be used for rotational motion?
A: For rotational motion, the analogous formula is α = τ/I, where α is angular acceleration, τ is torque, and I is moment of inertia.
Q3: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: Use the net force (vector sum of all forces) in the calculation. The acceleration will be in the direction of the net force.
Q4: Does this law apply in all reference frames?
A: Newton's Second Law applies in inertial reference frames. In non-inertial frames, fictitious forces must be considered.
Q5: How does this relate to F = ma?
A: F = ma is the standard form, while a = F/m is the rearranged form to solve for acceleration when force and mass are known.