SCIENCE 9 — PHYSICS
Newton's Second Law
Understanding How Force, Mass, and Acceleration Work Together
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REVIEW: NEWTON'S FIRST LAW
Inertia
Objects naturally resist changes to their motion. A book on a desk stays put. A rolling ball
keeps rolling. This resistance is called inertia, and it depends on the object's mass.
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces
Balanced Forces:
● Equal forces pushing/pulling in opposite directions
● Object stays at rest OR continues moving at constant speed
● Net force = 0 N
● Acceleration = 0 m/s²
Unbalanced Forces:
● Forces are NOT equal in all directions
● Object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction
● Net force ≠ 0 N
● Acceleration occurs!
Key Point: Only unbalanced forces cause acceleration.
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LESSON OBJECTIVES
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Define Newton's Second Law and explain the relationship between force, mass, and
acceleration
2. Calculate force, mass, or acceleration using the equation F = ma
3. Analyze real-world situations to determine how changing force or mass affects
acceleration
4. Compare direct and inverse relationships in motion problems
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WHAT IS FORCE?
Three Key Ideas About Force
1. Force is a Vector
● Has both magnitude (strength) and direction
● Measured in Newtons (N)
● Represented by arrows in diagrams
2. Force is an Interaction
● Requires contact between objects (push, pull, friction)
● OR acts at a distance (gravity, magnetism)
● Can cause objects to start moving, stop moving, or change direction
3. The Newton Unit
● 1 Newton (N) = the force needed to accelerate 1 kg of mass at 1 m/s²
● 1 N = 1 kg·m/s²
● A small apple weighs about 1 N
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NEWTON'S SECOND LAW
The Big Idea
The acceleration of an object depends on two things:
1. Net force acting on it (direct relationship)
2. Mass of the object (inverse relationship)
What This Means:
● More force → more acceleration (if mass stays the same)
● More mass → less acceleration (if force stays the same)
Real-World Connection:
Think about pushing a friend on a swing. Push harder (more force) and they swing faster
(more acceleration). Now imagine pushing an adult with the same force—they won't
accelerate as much because they have more mass!
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THE EQUATION: F = ma
Understanding Each Variable
Variable Meaning Unit What It Represents
F Net Force Newton (N) Total unbalanced force acting on
object
m Mass kilogram (kg) Amount of matter in the object
a Acceleratio meters per second squared How quickly velocity changes
n (m/s²)
Three Forms of the Equation
To find Force:
F = ma
To find Acceleration:
a = F/m (divide both sides by m)
To find Mass:
m = F/a (divide both sides by a)
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DIRECT VS. INVERSE RELATIONSHIPS
Force and Acceleration (Direct Relationship)
When mass stays constant:
● Double the force → acceleration doubles
● Triple the force → acceleration triples
● Half the force → acceleration is cut in half
Example: Pushing a 5 kg box with 10 N gives 2 m/s² acceleration. Push with 20 N and you
get 4 m/s² acceleration.
Mass and Acceleration (Inverse Relationship)
When force stays constant:
● Double the mass → acceleration is cut in half
● Triple the mass → acceleration is cut to one-third
● Half the mass → acceleration doubles
Example: A 10 N force on a 2 kg object gives 5 m/s² acceleration. Apply the same 10 N to a
4 kg object and you only get 2.5 m/s² acceleration.
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REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES
Example 1: Shopping Carts
● Empty cart (10 kg) pushed with 20 N → accelerates at 2 m/s²
● Full cart (40 kg) pushed with 20 N → accelerates at 0.5 m/s²
● Same force, but 4× the mass = ¼ the acceleration!
Example 2: Car Acceleration
● Sports car (1,200 kg) with powerful engine (6,000 N force) → accelerates at 5 m/s²
● Truck (3,000 kg) with same engine (6,000 N force) → accelerates at only 2 m/s²
● The truck has 2.5× more mass, so it accelerates 2.5× slower
Example 3: Kicking Balls
● Kick a soccer ball (0.4 kg) with 40 N → accelerates at 100 m/s²
● Kick a bowling ball (7 kg) with 40 N → accelerates at only 5.7 m/s²
● The bowling ball has much more mass, so it's harder to accelerate
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MASS VS. WEIGHT: WHAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE?
Mass
● Amount of matter in an object
● Measured in kilograms (kg)
● Never changes no matter where you are
● Used in F = ma
Weight
● Force of gravity pulling on an object
● Measured in Newtons (N)
● Changes based on location (Earth, Moon, space)
● Calculated using W = mg (where g = 9.8 m/s² on Earth)
Example: A 50 kg student has the same mass everywhere, but weighs 490 N on Earth and
only 82 N on the Moon!
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GUIDED PRACTICE PROBLEM 1
Problem
A 10 kg cargo box is pushed across a level floor with a net force of 30 N. What is its
acceleration?
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Identify the variables
● m = 10 kg
● F = 30 N
● a = ?
Step 2: Choose the correct equation
● We need to find acceleration, so use: a = F/m
Step 3: Substitute and solve
● a = 30 N / 10 kg
● a = 3 m/s²
Step 4: Check your answer
● Does it make sense? Yes! A moderate force on a moderate mass gives a reasonable
acceleration.
● Units correct? Yes! N/kg = m/s²
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GUIDED PRACTICE PROBLEM 2
Problem
A 0.5 kg hockey puck accelerates at 20 m/s² when hit. What force was applied?
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Identify the variables
● m = 0.5 kg
● a = 20 m/s²
● F = ?
Step 2: Choose the correct equation
● We need to find force, so use: F = ma
Step 3: Substitute and solve
● F = 0.5 kg × 20 m/s²
● F = 10 N
Step 4: Check your answer
● Does it make sense? Yes! A light object with high acceleration requires moderate force.
● Units correct? Yes! kg·m/s² = N
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GUIDED PRACTICE PROBLEM 3
Problem
A net force of 150 N causes an object to accelerate at 3 m/s². What is the object's mass?
Step-by-Step Solution
Step 1: Identify the variables
● F = 150 N
● a = 3 m/s²
● m = ?
Step 2: Choose the correct equation
● We need to find mass, so use: m = F/a
Step 3: Substitute and solve
● m = 150 N / 3 m/s²
● m = 50 kg
Step 4: Check your answer
● Does it make sense? Yes! A large force with moderate acceleration suggests a fairly
heavy object.
● Units correct? Yes! N/(m/s²) = kg
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PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGY
Your 4-Step Process
1. READ and IDENTIFY
● What information is given?
● What are you solving for?
● Write down: F = ?, m = ?, a = ?
2. SELECT the equation
● Finding force? Use F = ma
● Finding acceleration? Use a = F/m
● Finding mass? Use m = F/a
3. SUBSTITUTE and CALCULATE
● Plug in your numbers
● Do the math carefully
● Include units in your answer
4. CHECK your work
● Does the answer make sense?
● Are the units correct?
● Is the magnitude reasonable?
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COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
Mistake 1: Confusing Mass and Weight
● ❌ Using weight (N) instead of mass (kg) in F = ma
● ✓ Remember: mass is in kg, weight is a force in N
Mistake 2: Forgetting Units
● ❌ Writing "a = 5" without units
● ✓ Always include units: "a = 5 m/s²"
Mistake 3: Using Wrong Equation Form
● ❌ Trying to find mass but using F = ma
● ✓ Rearrange first: m = F/a
Mistake 4: Not Finding Net Force
● ❌ Using one force when multiple forces act on object
● ✓ Add/subtract forces to find net force first
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PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR YOU
Try these on your own, then check with a partner:
Problem A: A 2 kg textbook is pushed with a force of 8 N. What is its acceleration?
Problem B: A 60 kg student accelerates at 0.5 m/s² while ice skating. What net force is
acting on them?
Problem C: A force of 200 N accelerates a cart at 4 m/s². What is the cart's mass?
Challenge Problem: If you triple the force on an object while keeping mass constant, what
happens to acceleration?
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EXIT TICKET
Record your answers in your notebook:
Question 1:
If the net force acting on a moving ball doubles while mass stays the same, what happens to
the acceleration?
Question 2:
Write the formula you would use to solve for mass (m) when you know the net force and
acceleration.
Question 3:
Explain in your own words: Why does a heavier object require more force to achieve the
same acceleration as a lighter object?
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COMING UP NEXT
Newton's Third Law
Action and Reaction Forces
Preview Question to Think About:
When you push on a wall, does the wall push back on you? How could you tell?
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Remember These Big Ideas:
1. F = ma connects force, mass, and acceleration
2. More force = more acceleration (direct relationship)
3. More mass = less acceleration (inverse relationship)
4. Only unbalanced forces cause acceleration
5. Mass ≠ Weight (mass is in kg, weight is in N)
6. Always include units in your calculations
The Bottom Line: Newton's Second Law helps us predict and explain motion in the world
around us!