Newton’s Second Law

Definition

Newton’s Second Law states that when an external force acts on an object, it causes acceleration in the direction of that force. The magnitude of this acceleration depends on both the net force applied and the mass of the object.

Related terms

Net Force:

The vector sum of all the forces acting on an object.

Inertia:

The tendency of an object to resist changes in its motion. Objects with more mass have greater inertia.

Acceleration:

The rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. It can be calculated by dividing the change in velocity by the time taken.