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A student pushes a 5 kg box with a force of 20 N across a frictionless floor. What is the acceleration of the box?

  1. A0.25 m/s²
  2. B4 m/s²
  3. C15 m/s²
  4. D100 m/s²
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Correct answer: B. 4 m/s²

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, Force (F) = Mass (m) × Acceleration (a). To find acceleration, rearrange the formula to a = F/m. So, a = 20 N / 5 kg = 4 m/s².

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. This is mass divided by force (5/20), which is incorrect.
  • C. This is the difference between force and mass (20-5), which is incorrect.
  • D. This is the product of force and mass (20*5), which is incorrect.

Newton's Second Law

Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The formula is F = ma.

  • F = ma (Force = mass × acceleration)
  • Acceleration is in the direction of the net force
  • Units: Force in Newtons (N), mass in kilograms (kg), acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s²)

Memory trick: F=ma is the 'Force-ful' Second Law

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