Newton's Second Law Calculator
Calculate force, mass, or acceleration using Newton's Second Law: F = ma
Newton's Second Law Calculator
Use initial velocity, final velocity, and time to calculate acceleration: a = (v₂ - v₁) / t
Mass of the object
Acceleration of the object
Newton's Second Law Results
Formula used: F = ma (Newton's Second Law)
Units: Force (N), Mass (kg), Acceleration (m/s²)
Example Calculation
Car Acceleration Problem
Given: A 1500 kg car accelerates at 2.5 m/s²
Find: The driving force needed
Solution
Using Newton's Second Law: F = ma
F = 1500 kg × 2.5 m/s²
F = 3750 N
This is the net force required for this acceleration
Newton's Three Laws
First Law
Objects at rest stay at rest; objects in motion stay in motion
Law of Inertia
Second Law
F = ma
Force equals mass times acceleration
Third Law
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Action-Reaction Pairs
Physics Tips
Force is proportional to acceleration for constant mass
Larger mass requires more force for same acceleration
Acceleration direction is same as net force direction
1 g-force = 9.8 m/s² (Earth's gravity)
Newton (N) = kg⋅m/s² (SI unit of force)
Understanding Newton's Second Law
What is Newton's Second Law?
Newton's Second Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This fundamental law of physics quantifies the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Key Concepts
- •Force causes acceleration, not velocity
- •Acceleration is inversely related to mass
- •Net force determines the acceleration
- •Direction of acceleration matches force direction
Formula Explanation
F = ma
a = F / m
- F: Net force (Newtons, N)
- m: Mass (kilograms, kg)
- a: Acceleration (meters per second squared, m/s²)
- 1 Newton: Force needed to accelerate 1 kg at 1 m/s²
Alternative form: F = m × (v₂ - v₁) / t
Using the definition of acceleration as change in velocity over time.
Real-World Applications
Transportation
- • Car engines provide force for acceleration
- • Braking systems apply force to decelerate
- • Rocket engines use F = ma for space travel
- • Aircraft thrust overcomes drag and weight
Sports & Athletics
- • Sprinters apply force to accelerate from blocks
- • Baseball pitchers use arm force for ball acceleration
- • Athletes train to increase force production
- • Equipment design considers mass and acceleration
Important Notes:
- • The law applies to net force (sum of all forces)
- • Mass is different from weight (weight = mg)
- • Acceleration can be positive (speeding up) or negative (slowing down)
- • Force and acceleration are vector quantities (have direction)