Why is acceleration affected by mass?

Answer 1
The equation #F = ma# describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. Your question seems to be asking how the mass can change the acceleration of an object. But that is not really what the equation is telling us. Many textbooks like to introduce the concept this way: #a = F/m# It is exactly the same formula with a simple algebraic change. In this form, the cause and effect relationship is more clearly seen. Read it this way: The acceleration (a) will result when a force (F) is exerted on an object with mass (m). In this form, the equation has the two things you can control (force and mass) on one side, and the thing you observe as a result (acceleration) on the other side.

I can apply force to an object to make it accelerate. The amount of force I apply and the object's weight determine how much of an acceleration I get; if I want to accelerate something twice as much, I will apply twice as much force.

Example 1: If two friends are pushing identical ice chunks across a frozen lake, then each chunk's acceleration will only be the same if the force acting on it is also the same.

Example 2: When two friends are pushing two different sized chunks of ice across a frozen lake, and one of the chunks weighs twice as much as the other, the person pushing the heavier chunk must push twice as hard to stay ahead of her friend.

From Newton's Laws, the acceleration can be calculated: #a_1 = F_1m_1# #a_2 = F_2m_2#
We know the relative mass of the two objects: #m_2 = 2m_1#
If we want the same acceleration for each object then we know that: #a_1 = a_2#
After a little figuring we can show that #F_2 = 2F_1# Said again: If you want to accelerate something that is twice as heavy, you will need twice as much force.
Sign up to view the whole answer

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sign up with email
Answer 2

Acceleration is affected by mass due to Newton's second law of motion, which states that force equals mass multiplied by acceleration (F = ma). Consequently, if mass increases while force remains constant, acceleration decreases, and vice versa. This relationship highlights the direct proportionality between force, mass, and acceleration.

Sign up to view the whole answer

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Sign up with email
Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

Not the question you need?

Drag image here or click to upload

Or press Ctrl + V to paste
Answer Background
HIX Tutor
Solve ANY homework problem with a smart AI
  • 98% accuracy study help
  • Covers math, physics, chemistry, biology, and more
  • Step-by-step, in-depth guides
  • Readily available 24/7