2. Qualitatively, what effect did your object's or system's mass have on its acceleration? Support your answer with data \( \qquad \) \( \qquad \) \( \qquad \)

When examining the relationship between mass and acceleration, it's important to highlight that according to Newton's Second Law (F=ma), an increase in mass results in a decrease in acceleration if force is constant. For instance, if you push a cart with a force of 10 N, a cart weighing 5 kg will accelerate at 2 m/s², while a 10 kg cart will only accelerate at 1 m/s² under the same force. This illustrates that more mass requires more force to achieve the same acceleration. In practical terms, this concept plays a crucial role in various scenarios, such as vehicle design. Lighter cars can accelerate faster and handle better, while heavier vehicles, like trucks, typically have greater inertia and require more force to achieve similar speeds. Engineers must consider mass when optimizing performance for different vehicles, ensuring they appropriately balance weight and acceleration for safety and efficiency.