Question

A student observes that for the same net force heavier objects accelerate less which statement describes the correct conclusion?

Answer 1

Answer: A decrease in acceleration causes the mass to increase.

Explanation:

Let's rewrite this as:

"For a constant force F, we can see that heavier objects accelerate less"

Then, as the mass increases, the acceleration of the object decreases.

This is known as an inverse relationship between acceleration and mass.

By second Newton's law we have that:

F = m*a

Force equals mass times acceleration.

So if the force is constant, we can write it as:

a = F/m.

In this equation, we can see that, if the acceleration decreases and F remains constant, then the mass m must increase (because it is in the denominator)

Then the correct option is:

A decrease in acceleration causes the mass to increase.

Answer 2

Answer:

There is a negative correlation between mass and acceleration.

Explanation:

Facundo is wrong. I got this wrong thanks to Facundo!