Question

Explain how the actions of the muscular and skeletal systems show how Newton’s Second Law (F=ma) applies to kicking a ball with an emphasis on the more force applied to the “ball” gives it greater acceleration and makes it travel farther.

Answer 1

Muscles, bones, and joints are some of the most interesting applications of statics. Kicking a ball with a leg acts as a force that moves the ball with an acceleration. This phenomenon uses Newton's second law of motion.

Newton’s second law quantifies the acceleration on a given mass for a given force. Force is proportional to both mass and acceleration. The law states that the net force, ΣF, is ΣF = ma

Constant acceleration is the result of a constant net force acting on an object. A constant force in the direction of motion, such as that applied by the falling mass in an unbalanced Atwood machine, increases an object’s speed.