Newton's Second Law: Force and Acceleration (Part 2)

What You'll Learn

Newton's second law says that force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). A heavier object needs more force to accelerate at the same rate as a lighter one.

Key Words

gravity
friction
inertia

Materials Needed

blocks
spring scale
stopwatch
pencils

Safety First

Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read and learn: Newton's second law says that force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). A heavier object needs more force to accelerate at the same rate as a lighter one.

Step 2 — Do

Follow the procedure carefully, step by step.

Step 3 — Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 — Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What unit is force measured in?