3. What is the relationship (inverse, proportional, equal, squared, et cetera) between the mass of your object or system and its acceleration? How do you know? \( \qquad \) \( \qquad \) \( \qquad \)

In physics, the relationship between the mass of an object and its acceleration is described by Newton's second law of motion, which states that force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). This implies that the acceleration of an object is inversely proportional to its mass when force is constant. So, if you double the mass, the acceleration will be halved, demonstrating that heavier objects require more force to achieve the same acceleration as lighter ones. This principle plays a crucial role in various real-world applications, from automotive engineering, where understanding how weight affects a vehicle’s acceleration aids in design, to aerospace, where reducing mass can significantly enhance a rocket's performance. Watching NASCAR cars and rockets in action showcases how mass influences their movement—more mass means less acceleration, which can be the difference between winning a race or successfully launching into space!