A constant force is applied to an object, causing the object to accelerate at 5

Question

A constant force is applied to an object, causing the object to accelerate at 5m/s2 .

Expressing the acceleration in terms of the force and mass, what happens to the acceleration if the force is halved but the mass remains the same?

Expressing the acceleration in terms of the force and mass, what happens to the acceleration if the mass is halved but the force remains the same?

Expressing the acceleration in terms of the force and mass, what happens to the acceleration if both the force and mass are reduced by a factor of two?

Expressing the acceleration in terms of the force and mass, what happens to the acceleration if the force is decreased by a factor of two and the mass is increased by a factor of two? Check your answer by choosing numerical values of the force and mass, and then halve the force and double the mass.

Explanation / Answer

Recall Newton's First Law: Force = Mass * Acceleration

This can be rewritten as Acceleration = Force / Mass

a. If the mass of the object is constant and the force is halved, the acceleration will be halved . A = (F/2)/M = (F/2M)
b. If the force and the mass are both halved, the acceleration remains unchanged. A = (F/2)/(M/2) = (F/M)
c. If the force is halved and the mass is doubled, the acceleration is quartered. A = (F/2)/(2M) = (F/4M)

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