The acceleration of an object can change due to alterations in the net force acting upon it or its mass.
Based on fundamental principles of physics, specifically Newton's Second Law of Motion as described in the provided reference, the acceleration of an object is directly influenced by two primary factors:
Factors Affecting Acceleration
The relationship between acceleration, net force, and mass is inverse and direct, respectively.
1. Net Force
The acceleration of an object depends directly upon the net force acting upon the object. This means that if the net force applied to an object increases, its acceleration will also increase, assuming its mass remains constant.
- Direct Relationship: As the force acting upon an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is increased. Conversely, if the net force decreases, the acceleration decreases.
- Example: Pushing a shopping cart with more force causes it to accelerate faster.
2. Mass
The acceleration of an object depends... inversely upon the mass of the object. This signifies that if the mass of an object increases, its acceleration will decrease when subjected to the same net force.
- Inverse Relationship: As the mass of an object is increased, the acceleration of the object is decreased. If the mass decreases, the acceleration increases.
- Example: Pushing an empty shopping cart (less mass) with the same force as a full shopping cart (more mass) results in the empty cart accelerating more quickly.
How Changes Occur
Any change in the net force applied to an object, or any change in the object's mass, will result in a corresponding change in its acceleration.
- Increasing Acceleration: To increase an object's acceleration, you can either:
- Increase the net force acting on it.
- Decrease its mass.
- Decreasing Acceleration: To decrease an object's acceleration, you can either:
- Decrease the net force acting on it.
- Increase its mass.
In summary, changing the push or pull (net force) or changing the amount of matter (mass) of an object are the factors that cause its acceleration to change.
