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Newton’s 2nd law of motion
Newton’s 2nd law of motion states that, the rate of change of momentum of a body is directly proportional to the external force applied on it.
Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
F = ma
where: F represents the net force acting on the object, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration produced by the net force.
To better understand this law, let’s consider an example:
Imagine a car with a mass of 1,200 kilograms (m) that is initially at rest. When the driver applies a constant force of 2,400 Newtons (F) to the car’s gas pedal, according to Newton’s second law, we can calculate the resulting acceleration (a).
Using the formula F = ma, we rearrange it to solve for acceleration:
a = F / m
a = 2,400 N / 1,200 kg
a = 2 m/s²
The calculated acceleration of 2 meters per second squared means that for every second the force is applied, the car’s velocity will increase by 2 meters per second.
Therefore, Newton’s second law of motion helps us understand the relationship between the force applied to an object, its mass, and the resulting acceleration. It highlights that the greater the force applied to an object or the smaller its mass, the greater the resulting acceleration will be.
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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. Mathematically, it can be expressed as:
F = m * a
where:
F represents the net force acting on the object,
m is the mass of the object, and
a is the acceleration produced.
According to Newton’s second law, if you apply a force to an object, the object will accelerate in the direction of the force. The acceleration is directly proportional to the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. This means that the same force will produce a greater acceleration on a lighter object compared to a heavier object.
The second law is one of the fundamental principles of classical mechanics and provides a mathematical description of the cause-and-effect relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. It is commonly written as “F = ma” and is applicable to a wide range of physical systems, from everyday objects to celestial bodies.
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