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Newton's Second Law:
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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. The law is mathematically expressed as \( F = ma \), which can be rearranged to calculate acceleration.
The calculator uses Newton's second law formula:
Where:
Explanation: This fundamental physics equation describes how the motion of an object changes when a force is applied. The greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration, while a larger mass results in smaller acceleration for the same force.
Details: Calculating acceleration is essential in physics, engineering, and various real-world applications including vehicle design, sports science, space exploration, and understanding everyday motion phenomena.
Tips: Enter 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 position, while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Acceleration measures how quickly an object's speed or direction is changing.
Q2: What are typical acceleration values?
A: Earth's gravity causes acceleration of 9.8 m/s². Car acceleration ranges from 2-8 m/s², while space shuttle launch acceleration can reach 29 m/s².
Q3: Can acceleration be negative?
A: Yes, negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when an object slows down. The calculator shows magnitude only; direction depends on the force vector.
Q4: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: Use the net force (vector sum of all forces) in the calculation. The acceleration will be in the direction of the net force.
Q5: Does this formula work in all reference frames?
A: Newton's second law applies in inertial reference frames. In non-inertial frames, fictitious forces must be considered.