Home
Back
Newton's Second Law Formula:
| From: | To: |
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. This fundamental principle describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration in classical mechanics.
The calculator uses Newton's Second Law formula:
Where:
Explanation: The acceleration of an object depends on both the magnitude of the net external force and the mass of the object. Doubling the net force doubles the acceleration, while doubling the mass halves the acceleration.
Details: Calculating acceleration is crucial in physics and engineering for understanding motion, designing vehicles and machinery, analyzing sports performance, and solving real-world problems involving moving objects.
Tips: Enter net force in newtons (N) and mass in kilograms (kg). Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q1: What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?
A: Velocity is the rate of change of displacement (speed with direction), while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Acceleration measures how quickly velocity is changing.
Q2: What are typical acceleration values?
A: Gravity on Earth: 9.8 m/s², Car acceleration: 2-3 m/s², Sports car: 4-6 m/s², Free fall: 9.8 m/s², Space shuttle launch: 29 m/s².
Q3: How does mass affect acceleration?
A: For the same net force, heavier objects accelerate more slowly than lighter objects. Acceleration is inversely proportional to mass.
Q4: What is negative acceleration?
A: Negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object slows down. The acceleration vector points in the opposite direction to the velocity vector.
Q5: Can acceleration be zero?
A: Yes, acceleration is zero when either the net force is zero (object at rest or moving with constant velocity) or when forces are balanced.