Force Mass Acceleration Calculator

What is Force, Mass, and Acceleration?

Force, mass, and acceleration are fundamental concepts in classical mechanics. Force is a push or pull acting on an object. Mass is a measure of an object's resistance to acceleration when a force is applied. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time.

Formula

The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is expressed by Newton's Second Law of Motion:

\[ F = ma \]

Where:

• F is the net force acting on the object (measured in Newtons, N)
• m is the mass of the object (measured in kilograms, kg)
• a is the acceleration of the object (measured in meters per second squared, m/s²)

Calculation Steps

Let's calculate the force required to accelerate a 1000 kg car from rest to 100 km/h in 10 seconds:

1. Identify the known values:
   • m = 1000 kg
   • Initial velocity, v₀ = 0 m/s
   • Final velocity, v = 100 km/h = 27.78 m/s
   • Time, t = 10 s
2. Calculate the acceleration: \[ a = \frac{v - v_0}{t} = \frac{27.78 \text{ m/s} - 0 \text{ m/s}}{10 \text{ s}} = 2.778 \text{ m/s²} \]
3. Apply Newton's Second Law: \[ F = ma \]
4. Substitute the known values: \[ F = (1000 \text{ kg})(2.778 \text{ m/s²}) \]
5. Perform the calculation: \[ F = 2778 \text{ N} \]

Example and Visual Representation

Let's visualize the force, mass, and acceleration relationship:

This visual representation shows:

• The car with a mass of 1000 kg
• The force of 2778 N applied to accelerate the car
• The resulting acceleration of 2.778 m/s²