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Newton's 2nd Law is F = MA! This formula allows you to calculate the motion of masses when net force is applied.
Scientific Law = a mathematical way of explaining reality. The following equation shows net force affects the acceleration of a mass.
Net Force
Net Force
A net force is what causes a mass to accelerate.
In the picture to the left, the person with a green head on the left, pushes 200N of force.
The person on the right with the yellow head pushes with 100N of force.
Therefore, the net force equals 100N to the right. The pink box will accelerate to the right.
In physics, mass is the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms.
Mass is also related to inertia—the resistance to changes in motion.
A larger mass has more inertia and can resist net force.
Acceleration
Acceleration
Acceleration can mean speeding up, slowing down and/or changing direction.
The kitten is demonstrating all these types of acceleration.
You have had experience with F = MA!
You have had experience with F = MA!
Small masses have large accelerations for a given net force.
Large masses have small accelerations for a given net force.
Imagine a empty wagon that you always pull with the same, constant net force.
It is easy to accelerate a wagon that has very little mass.
Now imagine a wagon that is full of rocks is very massive.
If you pull the mass wagon with the same constant net force, it will be very hard to accelerate. The wagon with a lot of mass is very difficult to accelerate.
F = MA Graph
F = MA Graph
This graph shows:
If net force is constant and as mass increases, the acceleration decreases.
In contrast, small masses are easy to accelerate for the same constant net force.
Big masses are hard to accelerate.
Small masses are easy to accelerate.
Centripetal Force is Always a NET FORCE
Centripetal Force is Always a NET FORCE
Imagine swinging a bucket around your head in a circle. The bucket "wants" to travel forward due to its inertia and velocity. You can test this by letting go of the string; the bucket will fly forward. You apply a Centripetal Force to accelerate the bucket in a circular path.
Imagine swinging a bucket around your head in a circle. The bucket "wants" to travel forward due to its inertia and velocity. You can test this by letting go of the string; the bucket will fly forward. You apply a Centripetal Force to accelerate the bucket in a circular path.
Centripetal force is defined as: The push or pull on a moving object toward the center of its curved path. Centripetal force is always a net force.
Centripetal force is defined as: The push or pull on a moving object toward the center of its curved path. Centripetal force is always a net force.
Velocity and Inertia cause the object to travel forward.
Centripetal force pushes the object toward the center of the circle.
Centripetal force pushes a rolling car or marble on a loop toward the center of the loop!
As long as the centripetal acceleration is equal to or greater than the acceleration due to gravity, the car/ball will stay on the track. The loop pushes the moving mass down faster than gravity can pull it down.
More F=MA Details
More F=MA Details
A force is a push or a pull that is capable of changing the velocity of a mass. Forces are measured in “Newtons” or “N”, in honor of Sir Isaac Newton. According to Mr. Newton, an object will only accelerate if there is “net force” acting upon it.
A net force is the sum of all forces acting on an object. A net force is capable of accelerating a mass.
The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting upon it. The constant of proportionality is the mass. A net force is also known as an "unbalanced force."
F = Force = A push or pull. Forces are measured in Newtons.
M = Mass. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Mass is measured in Kilograms.
A = Acceleration = speeding up, slowing down or changing direction. Acceleration is measured in m/s/s or m/s^2.
A net force is the sum of all forces acting on an object. For instance, the bike below is currently moving at 2 m/s. If the wheels of a bike push it forward with 40 Newtons while drag pushes backward with 30 N, the net force is 10 Newtons, forward.
The bike will speed up! Motion to the right is positive. Motion to the left is negative. The units for acceleration = m/s2.
Fnet = MA Math Calculations
Fnet = MA Math Calculations
Scenario #1
Scenario #1
Calculation #1
Calculation #1
A 5kg car has 30N of net force acting on it.
What is the acceleration of the car?
F = MA
30 = 5A
A = 6 m/s/s
Another way to solve:
A = F/M
A = 30/5
A = 6 m/s/s
Scenario #2
Scenario #2
The net force would equal 20 Newtons, forward. The mass will accelerate.
Calculation #2
Calculation #2
What is the acceleration of the car?
F = MA
20 = 4A
A = 5 m/s/s
Another way to solve:
A = F/M
A = 20/4
A = 5 m/s/s
Scenario #3
Scenario #3
The wheels exert 25 Newtons of force. A rocket applies an additional 35 newtons of force. The total forward force is 60N, but 20N of drag is acting in the other direction.
What is the net force? 60-20, equals 40N forward. The net force is 40N, forward.
The truck will accelerate forward.
Calculation #3
Calculation #3
What is the acceleration of the truck?
F = MA
40 = 20A
A = 2 m/s/s
Another way to solve:
A = 40/M
A = 40/20
A = 2 m/s/s
If the wheels of a car push it forward with 5 Newtons and drag is 3 Newtons, the net force is 2 Newtons, forward. Motion to the right is positive. Motion to the left is negative.
Isaac Newton
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