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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. This fundamental principle forms the basis of classical mechanics.
The calculator uses Newton's Second Law equation:
Where:
Explanation: The acceleration of an object depends on both the magnitude of the net force and the mass of the object. Doubling the force doubles the acceleration, while doubling the mass halves the acceleration.
Details: Calculating acceleration is essential in physics, engineering, and various real-world applications including vehicle design, sports science, space exploration, and understanding motion in everyday life.
Tips: Enter force in newtons and mass in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero. The calculator will compute the acceleration in meters per second squared.
Q1: What are the SI units for this calculation?
A: Force in newtons (N), mass in kilograms (kg), and acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²).
Q2: Does this law apply to all types of motion?
A: Newton's Second Law applies to linear motion under constant mass conditions. For rotational motion, torque and moment of inertia are used instead.
Q3: What if multiple forces act on an object?
A: Use the net force (vector sum of all forces) acting on the object in the direction of motion.
Q4: How does gravity affect this calculation?
A: Gravity is one of the forces that can contribute to the net force. The weight of an object (mg) is the gravitational force acting on it.
Q5: Can this calculator handle negative acceleration?
A: While the calculator accepts only positive inputs, negative acceleration (deceleration) occurs when the net force opposes the direction of motion.