Newton's second law
What Newton's second law means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Newton's second law
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Reference: OCR
A resultant force on a mass produces acceleration in the direction of that force, and acceleration is directly proportional to resultant force for a fixed mass and inversely proportional to mass for a fixed force.
The relationship force = mass × acceleration, with force in newtons, mass in kilograms and acceleration in m/s².
Links resultant force F, mass m and acceleration a by the equation F = m × a.
The relationship F = m a, where the mass being used is the inertial mass.
Topics that use Newton's second law
- Newton's Second Law (AQA GCSE)
- Newton's laws (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- balanced forces
- Inertial mass
- Mass
- Resultant force
- SI units and unit conversion
- a = Δv ÷ t
- Acceleration
- changing direction
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