Fiveable
Fiveable

Newton's second law of motion

Definition

Newton's second law of motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass. It can be mathematically represented as F = ma (force equals mass times acceleration).

Analogy

Think about pushing two shopping carts with different masses. The heavier cart requires more force to accelerate compared to the lighter cart because it has more mass.

Related terms

Acceleration: The rate at which an object changes its velocity over time.

Net Force: The vector sum of all forces acting on an object.

Mass: A measure of the amount of matter in an object.



© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.