The Law of Acceleration: Understanding Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Which is an example of the law of acceleration (Newton's 2nd Law)?
A. A crash test dummy flies through the windshield in a collision
B. A rocket taking off from Earth
C. A small rock skips a pond faster than a large rock
Final answer:
The law of acceleration, Newton's second law of motion, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass. Examples of this law include a rocket taking off from Earth and a crash test dummy flying through the windshield in a collision.
Explanation:
The law of acceleration, also known as Newton's second law of motion, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied to it and inversely proportional to its mass. This means that when a force is applied to an object, it will accelerate in the direction of the force.
An example of the law of acceleration can be seen in a rocket taking off from Earth. The force generated by the rocket engines pushes the rocket forward, and the acceleration depends on the magnitude of the force and the mass of the rocket.
Another example is when a crash test dummy flies through the windshield in a collision. The force of the impact causes the dummy to accelerate forward, as it is not restrained by a seatbelt or airbag.
The law of acceleration, or Newton's second law of motion, is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. According to this law, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
When a force is applied to an object, the object will accelerate in the direction of that force. The greater the force applied, the greater the acceleration of the object. Conversely, if the mass of the object is increased, its acceleration will decrease for a given force.
For example, when a rocket takes off from Earth, the powerful engines generate a force that propels the rocket forward. This force causes the rocket to accelerate in the direction of the force, enabling it to overcome Earth's gravitational pull and travel into space.
Similarly, in a car crash, the force of impact causes a crash test dummy to accelerate rapidly through the windshield. The lack of restraint allows the dummy to accelerate freely in response to the force of the collision.
Understanding the law of acceleration is crucial in various fields, from designing spacecraft and vehicles to analyzing the impact of collisions. By applying this law, scientists and engineers can predict and manipulate the motion of objects with precision.