ExampleBeginner

Newton's Second Law

Force changes motion according to mass and acceleration.

Reference checked · 1 source · View evidence

Field

Physics

Topic

Mechanics

Estimated Time

20 min

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Definition

Newton's Second Law states that the net force on an object equals its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In practice, the formula explains how hard you must push to change motion, and how an object's mass resists that change.

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Force, mass, and acceleration

One-dimensional classical motion with constant mass in an inertial frame. The slider represents net force, including any opposing forces; this is a relationship explorer, not a time simulation.

Net force10 N

Mass2 kg

a = F_net / m = 10 / 2 = 5.00 m/s²

Predict first: what happens if you double the mass? Negative force gives negative acceleration along the chosen axis; it does not necessarily mean the object is moving backward.

What you should take away

Interpret force as a cause of acceleration.
Explain why mass changes how strongly the same force affects motion.
Connect algebraic and intuitive readings of F = ma.

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Quick check

If the same force is applied to two objects, which one accelerates more?

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Sources & evidence

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Reference checked · 2026-10-06 · Educational sample

Educational sample: references and basic claims checked against the linked sources. This is not a claim of human expert editorial approval.

Textbook
University Physics Volume 1 · 5.3 Newton’s Second Law
Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny, William Moebs · OpenStax
Supports: Net force, mass, and acceleration in classical mechanics.
Scope: F = ma here assumes constant mass and an inertial frame; the activity models only one dimension.
Checked 2026-10-06

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