State the relationship between jisim,m and

acceleration, a?
2.6 Inversely proportional

Complete the graph below:

Learning Standard
2.6.1 Define force as the rate of change of
momentum
2.6.2 Solve problems involving F = ma
*************************************************************

We use forces in our daily activities. Forces can

make things move; slow down or stopped a
moving object; change direction of moving The relationship between force, F, mass, m and
object; change shape of an object and resist other acceleration, a is given:
forces.
F α ma
F α m (v – u) Change of = mv - mu
t Momentum
F α (mv – mu)
t Rate of change = (mv – mu)
Of Momentum t

State Newton’s Second Law of Motion

The acceleration of an object, a, is directly
proportional to the net force acting on it, F, and
is inversely proportional to its mass, m.

Diagram (a) shows a force, F acts on an object of Write an equation for Newton’s Second law of
mass m. What happens to the object? motion if F = force, m = mass and a = acceleration.
Object accelerate F = ma
………………………………………………………………

Exercise 2:
1. Calculate the acceleration of the block:

What happens if the force acting on the same a = 8/2 = 4 ms-2

mass is doubled as shown in Diagram (b)?
Object accelerates more

State the relationship between force, F and

acceleration, a?
Directly proportional
a = 14 – 6 = 1.6 ms-2
5

What happens if the same force, F acts on mass a = (18 – 2) = 1.6 ms-2
of 2m as shown in Diagram (c)? 10
Object moves slowly
 a = (10 – 5 – 5) = 0
12

2. A man pushes a trolley

with 5 kg box on a
smooth surface. If he
uses a force of 30 N to
move the trolley, what
is the magnitude and
direction of the
acceleration of the
trolley?
a = F/m = 30/5 = 6 ms-2
3. An object of mass 2 kg is pulled on the floor
by a force of 5 N and having a constant
velocity.
(a) What is the frictional force between the
object and the floor.
(b) Calculate the acceleration of the object if
the object is pulled by a 17 N force.
(a) F = 0 because constant velocity
Pull force = frictional force = 5 N
(b) F = 17 – 5 = 12 N
a = F/2 = 12/2 = 6 ms-2
4. A bus of mass 2 000 kg travels with a uniform
velocity 40 ms-1 for a distance 2500 m before it
comes to rest. Calculate
(a) the average deceleration of the bus
(b) the average force applied by the brakes
to bring the bus to a standstill
(a) s = 2500 m u = 40 v = 0 a = ?
V2 = u2 + 2as
0 = (40)2 + 2(a)(2500)
5000a = - 1600
a = - 0.32 ms-2 (deceleration)
(b) F = ma = 2000(-0.32)
= - 640 N
Activity 1:
Aim: To investigate the relationship between force
and acceleration and the relationship between
mass and acceleration
Apparatus: Ticker timer, alternating current power
supply, runway, three trolleys, smoothe pulley
Materials: Ticker tape, cellophane tape, inelastic
string, slotted mass of 100 g.
A. To investigate the relationship between force
and acceleration with a fixed mass
1. A trolley of mass 1.0 kg is placed on the
frictional compesanate runway. A length of
ticker tape is attached to the trolley.
2. The ticker timer is switched on and the trolley
is pulled by a weight of force, F = 10.0 N.
3. From the ticker tape obtained, the acceleration
of the trolley is calculated by using the formula
a = (v – u)/t.
4. Experiment is repeated by adding slotted
weights to pull the trolley so that F = 20.0 N,
and 30.0 N.
Force , F/N Acceleration, a / cms-2
10.0
20.0
30.0
Draw acceleration against force graph on a graph
paper.
State the relationship between force and
acceleration.
Directly proportional
B. To investigate the relationship between mass
and acceleration at a constant force
1. A trolley of mass 1.0 kg is placed on the
runway. A length of ticker tape is attached to
the trolley.
2. The ticker timer is switched on and the trolley
is pulled by a weight of force, F = 10.0 N.
3. From the ticker tape obtained, the acceleration
of the trolley is calculated by using the formula
a = (v – u)/t.
4. Experiment is repeated by adding trolleys so
that mass of trolley m = 2 kg, and 3 kg,
mass m/kg Acceleration a/ cms-2
Draw acceleration against mass graph on a graph 4 Diagram 4 shows a car with a mass of 1000 kg
paper. moving with an acceleration of 2 ms-2. There is a
State the relationship between mass and frictional force of 900 N acting on the car.
acceleration.
Inversely proportional

TUTORIAL 2.6:
1 A cyclist cycles his bicycle with a force of 120 N.

What is the force exerted by the engine of the

car?
A. 900 N
B. 1 100 N
C. 2 000 N
D. 2 900 N
F = ma = T – 900 = (1000)(2) = 2000
T = 2000 + 900 = 2900 N

5 F1 , F2 and F3 are forces with the same magnitude

If the total mass of the bicycle and cyclist is 80 kg, acting on a wooden block. Which diagram shows
the acceleration is the maximum resultant force acting on the
A 0.67 m s -2 wooden block? (2008)
B 0.80 m s -2
C 1.25 m s -2
D 1.50 m s -2
F = 120 – 20 = 100 N
a = 100/80 = 1.25

2 Which of the following systems will produce

maximum acceleration?

6 Diagram 5 shows a toy car of mass 4 kg. The car

is pushed forward by a force of 10 N. The
frictional force between the toy car and the floor
is 2 N.

What is the acceleration of the toy car? (2010)

A. 20 ms-2
D
B. 12 ms-2
C. 5 ms-2
3 The diagram shows an Formula-1 racing car.
D. 2 ms-2
F = 10 – 2 = (4)(a)
a = 8/4 = 2

Why does the car’s design engineer use light

composite materials for making the body of the
car although its engine is powerful ?
A. Acceleration increases if mass decreases.
B. A small mass produces a large force.
C. A large force produces a large inertia.
D. Composite material of small mass reduces
cost.
1. SPM 2014
Diagram 4.1 shows a 50 kg box is pushed by a
man with a force of 300 N. The box moved with a
constant velocity.

(a) What is the meaning of force? [1 mark]

Push or pull

(b)
(i) What is the frictional force acting on the
box?
300 N
……………………………………………………[1 mark]
(i) Sketch a displacement-time graph motion (a) Name the force which acted between the
of the box in Diagram 4.2. bicycle tyre and the road.
Frictional force
[1 mark]

(b) Observe Diagram 5.1 and Diagram 5.2.

(i) Compare the forces applied by the cyclists

that cause the bicycle to move forward.
5.1 > 5.2
[1 mark]
(c) The pushing force of the box is increased to (ii) Compare the time taken to travel the same
350 N. Calculate distance.
(i) The resultant force acting on the box. 5.1 < 5.2 [1 mark]
[2 marks]
F = 350 – 50 = 300 (iii) Based on the answer in 5(b)(ii), compare
the acceleration of the bicycle.
(ii) The acceleration of the box [2 marks] 5.1 > 5.2
a = F/m = 300/50 = 6 ms-2 [1 mark]

(iv) Relate the forces applied by the cyclists to

2. SPM 2016: the acceleration of the bicycle.
Diagram 5.1 shows two cyclists cycling the Directly proportional
bicycle and reached the distance shown in 3 [1 mark]
seconds. Diagram 5.2 shows only one of the
cyclists cycling the bicycle and reached the same (c) Name the physics law involved in 5(b)(iv).5.1
distance in 7 seconds. Newton’s Second Law of Motion
[1 mark]

(d) (i) What happen to the acceleration of bicycle

in Diagram 5.1 when both cyclists bend
their bodies forward?
Acceleration increases
[ 1 mark]

(ii) Give one reason for your answer in 5(d)(i).

Reduces air resistance
[1 mark]