Question

A constant force is applied to an object, causing the object to accelerate at 10 m/s^2. What will the acceleration be if: a) The force is halved? b) The object's mass is halved? c) The force and the object's mass are both halved?

Answer 1

What you need to know is that the force is

F=ma

The force is the product of mass and acceleration

this means that the acceleration is

a=F/m

a) The force is halved?
this means that f will be
`(F)/(2)` now:

a=
`(F)/(2m)`

So the accelaration will also he halved (it's the original acceleratation divided by 2)


b) The object's mass is halved?
a=
`(F)/(m/2)`=a=
`(F2)/(m)`

which is the original acceleration times two!! so it will double


c) The force and the object's mass are both halved?
now we have

a=
`(F/2)/(m/2)`=a=
`(2F)/(2m)`=a=
`(F)/(m)`

so they will cancel each other out and the acceleration will stay the same!