Newton’s

Second Law:
Force and
Acceleration
Calculate the dogs’ acceleration

Remember: a = f/m where a = acceleration, f =

force and m = mass
Newton's 2nd Law of
Motion:
F = m xa
•Force = mass x acceleration

 Mass is in kg
 Acceleration is in m/s 2

 Force is in kg x m/ s (or N)
2
Newton’s Second law
of motion:
–An object affected
by a net force will
accelerate in the
direction of the force
•The acceleration of
an object depends
on the mass of the
object and the
amount of the force
applied.
 acceleration
directly
proportional to net
external force and
inversely
proportional mass..
FORCE- a push or pull, all forces
have size and direction
MASS- the amount of matter an
object is made of
ACCELERATION-the rate at which
velocity changes; and object
accelerates if its speed changes, if
its direction changes and if both
speed and direction changes
Acceleration =
net force
mass
a =F
m
 Force Problems:
What force is needed to give an
object with a mass of 25.0 kg an
acceleration of 15.0 m/s ?
2

Given: Unknown:
m = 25.0 kg Formula F=?
a = 15.0 m/sec² F = ma

F = (25 kg)(15 m/sec²)

F = 375 kg•m/sec² = 375 N
 CHECK YOUR
UNDERSTANDING
•1. What acceleration
will result when a 12
N net force applied
to a 3 kg object? A 6
kg object?
2. A net force of 16
N causes a mass to
accelerate at a rate
of 5 m/s .
2
Determine the
mass.
•3. How much force is
needed to accelerate
a 66 kg skier 1
m/sec/sec?
• 1. What acceleration will result when a 12 N net
force applied to a 3 kg object?
12 N = 3 kg x 4 m/s/s

• 2. A net force of 16 N causes a mass to

accelerate at a rate of 5 m/s2. Determine the
mass.
16 N = 3.2 kg x
5 m/s/s

• 3. How much force is needed to accelerate a 66

kg skier 1 m/sec/sec?

66 kg-m/sec/sec or 66 N