Final answer:
The 'acceleration hypothesis' is based on Newton's second law of motion, asserting that, with constant mass, acceleration increases with increasing applied force and is calculable via the formula a = ΣF/m. Uniform acceleration implies constant acceleration over time, simplifying calculations and highlighting the predictability of classical mechanics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The “acceleration hypothesis” refers to the relationship between applied force, mass, and acceleration as described by Newton's second law of motion. This law states that an increase in applied force will cause an increase in acceleration if the mass of the object remains constant. In essence, the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net external force acting on the object and inversely proportional to the mass of the object, represented by the equation a = ΣF/m, where ΣF is the sum of the external forces and m is the mass of the object.
When dealing with bodies that accelerate uniformly, we assume that the acceleration is constant over time. This assumption simplifies calculations and allows the use of average acceleration to represent instantaneous acceleration. This principle has been verified experimentally for various systems, confirming predictability of acceleration in classical physics.