Newton's Second Law and Momentum Video Lessons

Concept

# Problem: A constant force is applied to an object, causing the object to accelerate at 10 m/s2. What will the acceleration be ifa. The force is halved? b. The object's mass is halved? c. The force and the object's mass are both halved? d. The force is halved and the object's mass is doubled?

###### FREE Expert Solution

In this problem, we're going to apply Newton's second law of motion.

According to Newton's second law of motion:

$\overline{){\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{=}}{\mathbf{m}}{\mathbf{a}}}$

This means that acceleration is:

$\overline{){\mathbf{a}}{\mathbf{=}}\frac{\mathbf{F}}{\mathbf{m}}}$

a.

From Newton's second law, we see that force is directly proportional to acceleration.

The mass of the object remains constant, in this case.

If the force is halved, the acceleration of the object will also be halved.

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###### Problem Details

A constant force is applied to an object, causing the object to accelerate at 10 m/s2. What will the acceleration be if

a. The force is halved?

b. The object's mass is halved?

c. The force and the object's mass are both halved?

d. The force is halved and the object's mass is doubled?