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Describe the mathematical relationship between acceleration and the mass

Ask by Mullins Flynn. in South Africa
Mar 08,2025

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Answer

Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force applied and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. This relationship is expressed by the equation \( F = m \cdot a \), where \( F \) is force, \( m \) is mass, and \( a \) is acceleration.

Solution

The mathematical relationship between acceleration (\(a\)), mass (\(m\)), and force (\(F\)) is described by Newton's second law of motion. This law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The relationship can be expressed with the following equation: \[ F = m \cdot a \] Where: - \(F\) is the net force applied to the object (in newtons, N), - \(m\) is the mass of the object (in kilograms, kg), - \(a\) is the acceleration of the object (in meters per second squared, m/s²). From this equation, we can derive the following relationships: 1. **Acceleration and Force**: If the mass is constant, an increase in force will result in an increase in acceleration. This can be expressed as: \[ a = \frac{F}{m} \] 2. **Acceleration and Mass**: If the force is constant, an increase in mass will result in a decrease in acceleration. This can be expressed as: \[ a = \frac{F}{m} \] Here, if \(m\) increases, \(a\) decreases, assuming \(F\) remains constant. In summary, the relationship shows that acceleration is dependent on both the net force applied to an object and its mass.

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Acceleration is directly related to the force applied and inversely related to the mass of an object, as beautifully captured in Newton's second law of motion: F = ma. This means that for a constant force, increasing the mass of an object will result in a decrease in its acceleration. Picture pushing a heavy shopping cart: it takes more effort (force) to get it moving quickly compared to a lightweight one! In real life, we see this relationship in action every day! For example, when a car accelerates, the engine generates a force, but if the car is loaded with heavy cargo, it won’t speed up as quickly as it would if it were empty. This is why race cars prioritize lightweight materials—less mass means they can achieve impressive acceleration!

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