Chapter 4, Problem 1RCQ

Is acceleration proportional to net force, or does acceleration equal net force?

To determine

If acceleration is proportional to the net force or is equal to net force.

Answer to Problem 1RCQ

Solution:

Acceleration is directly proportional to the net force.

Explanation of Solution

According to Newton’s second law of motion, external force causes the object to change its state. But external force is not the only force that acts on the object. There is a combination of forces which acts on an object and the resultant of the combination of these forces is known as the net force. Acceleration of an object is dependent on the net force. If you halved the net force, the acceleration would also be halved. Similarly, if you doubled the net force, the acceleration would also get doubled.

Therefore, acceleration is proportional to the net force:

$F\sim a$

Here.

$F$ is the net forc.

$a$ is the acceleration

Conclusion:

Acceleration is proportional to the net force.