Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Newton's Second Law of Motion describes the relationship between what two variables?

1. Force and resistance

2. Mass and energy

3. Acceleration and force

4. Velocity and distance

The correct answer is: Acceleration and force

The correct choice emphasizes the core principle of Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This relationship can be summed up by the equation F=ma, where F represents the force applied, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration produced. This means that if a greater force is applied to an object, it will accelerate more, provided its mass remains constant. Conversely, for a given force, a more massive object will accelerate less than a less massive one. Understanding this principle is essential in physics as it underpins many concepts related to motion and dynamics. In relation to the other options, while they involve various physical principles, they do not accurately describe the specific relationship outlined by Newton's Second Law. For instance, the concepts of force and resistance do not capture the essence of acceleration's reliance on force and mass, nor do mass and energy establish a direct connection to acceleration. Additionally, velocity and distance deal with kinematics rather than the force-mass-acceleration relationship that is central to this law.