Final answer:
Force is determined by mass and acceleration as per Newton's second law of motion, which is expressed as the formula Fnet = ma. A greater force or lighter mass results in greater acceleration, while for the same amount of force, heavier objects accelerate less.
Step-by-step explanation:
Force depends on two key factors: mass and acceleration. According to Newton's second law of motion, the net force acting on an object (Fnet) is the product of its mass (m) and its acceleration (a). This law can be expressed as the equation Fnet = ma, indicating that for a given force, a heavier object will accelerate less than a lighter one. Conversely, for a given mass, a larger force will result in greater acceleration. As such, the correct answer is a. mass and acceleration.
To better understand this, consider that force is directly proportional to acceleration. If the force is doubled, the acceleration doubles, assuming that the mass remains constant. Similarly, if the mass is doubled, the force needed to achieve the same acceleration is also doubled. It is also clear from the equation a = Fnet/m that acceleration is inversely proportional to mass. This means that as the mass of an object increases, the acceleration produced by a given force decreases.
Newton's second law of motion essentially describes the relationship between the net external force acting on an object, the mass of the object, and the acceleration. It states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.