Final answer:
The net force applied to an object according to Newton's second law of motion equals its mass times acceleration, expressed as Fnet = ma.
Step-by-step explanation:
Newton's second law of motion tells us that the net force applied to an object equals its mass times acceleration. In formula form, this is expressed as Fnet = ma, where Fnet is the net force, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration. This law is fundamental in physics because it describes how the velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to an external force.