Summary
Highlights
To comprehend Newton's second law (F=MA), it's crucial to first understand motion. Uniform motion is defined as an object moving in the same direction at a constant speed over time, like a car traveling at a consistent 30 miles per hour in a straight line.
Velocity combines uniform speed and uniform direction. A change in velocity, whether in speed or direction, is considered acceleration. Examples include pressing the gas pedal or brakes for speed changes, or feeling a pull when turning in a car for directional changes. Newton's first law states that a change in velocity is always caused by a force.
Mass is the amount of matter an object contains and is a measure of its inertia, measured in kilograms. Weight, however, is the gravitational force exerted on that mass. For instance, your weight would differ on the Moon due to less gravity, but your mass would remain constant regardless of location.
Newton's second law states that the force applied to an object is directly related to its acceleration and mass (F=MA). This means acceleration is how much velocity changes, force is the energy applied, and mass is the object's matter. For example, pushing a car (force) causes it to accelerate; a heavier vehicle like a big rig would require more force to achieve the same acceleration.
Applying more force to a given mass results in greater acceleration. Conversely, to accelerate a given mass more, one must apply more force. For example, applying the same force to an empty cart compared to a full cart will result in the empty cart accelerating more due to its lesser mass.