Basics
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1726) was a genius who figured out many principles of mathematics and science.
Purportedly inspired by an apple falling from a tree, Newton has been credited with the discovery of gravity.
Newton’s Three Laws of Motion are commonly known as Newton’s Laws.
Of the three laws, Newton’s Second Law most readily lends itself to test questions. You might or might not be given its associated formula.
Newton’s First Law
An object at rest remains at rest (unless acted upon by an external force).
An object in motion remains in motion (unless acted upon by an external force).
Inertia = tendency of an object at rest to remain at rest or of an object in motion to remain in motion.
Newton’s Second Law
Force = Mass × Acceleration
F = ma
F = force
(often measured in Newtons [N])
m = mass
(often measured in kilograms [kg])
a = acceleration
(often measured in meters per second per second [m/s²])
Of the three laws, Newton’s Second Law most readily lends itself to test questions (involving the calculator). You might or might not be given its associated formula.
Newton’s Third Law
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
“
Question
Given F = ma, what happens to F when m doubles and a remains constant (unchanged)?
Answer
F doubles.
Answer Process
F = 2m × a = 2ma
Because F is directly proportional to the doubling of m when a remains constant, F doubles.
Question
Given F = ma, what happens to F when m remains constant (unchanged) and a is halved?
Answer
F is cut in half.
Answer Process
F = m × 
Because F is directly proportional to the halving of a when m remains constant, F decreases to half of its former self.
Question
Given F = ma, what happens to F when m doubles and a is halved?
Answer
F remains the same.
Answer Process
F = 2m × 
Because F is directly proportional to m and a, when m doubles and a is cut in half,
F remains the same.
Question
Given F = ma, what happens when F remains constant (unchanged) and m is halved?
Answer
a doubles.
Answer Process
F = 
Because F is directly proportional to m and a, when F remains constant and m is cut in half, a must double.
Question
Given F = ma, what happens when F remains constant (unchanged) and a triples?
Answer
m decreases to a third of its former self.
Answer Process
F = 3a × 
Because F is directly proportional to m and a, when F remains constant and a triples, m must decrease to a third of its former self.
Question
A car with a mass of 2000 kg accelerates at 3 m/s².
What force was applied to the car?
Answer
6000 N
Answer Process
See Plug-In.
m = 2000 kg
a = 3 m/s²
F = ma
F = 2000 × 3 = 6000
| Input | Display | Comment |
 |
blinker | clears screen |
| 2000 × 3 | 2000*3 | F = ma Plug in 2000 for m. Plug in 3 for a. |
 |
6000 | Answer |
Newton’s Second Law |
Practice – Questions
1. Given F = ma, what happens to F when m triples and a remains constant?
A. F remains the same.
B. F doubles.
C. F decreases to a third of its former self.
D. F triples.
2. Given F = ma, what happens to F when m remains constant and a is decreased to a third of its former self?
A. F remains the same.
B. F doubles.
C. F decreases to a third of its former self.
D. F triples.
3. Given F = ma, what happens when F remains constant and m is decreased to a fourth of its former self?
A. a remains the same.
B. a quadruples.
C. a decreases to a fourth of its former self.
D. a doubles.
4. Given F = ma, what happens when F remains constant and a doubles?
A. m is cut in half.
B. m doubles.
C. m remains the same.
D. m triples.
5. A car with a mass of 4000 kg accelerates at 1.5 m/s².
What force was applied to the car?
A. 4000 N
B. 1500 N
C. 3000 N
D. 6000 N
Practice – Answers
1. D. F triples.
2. C. F decreases to a third of its former self.
3. B. a quadruples.
4. A. m is cut in half.
5. D. 6000 N