Newton's Second Law in Action
Part of Newton's Laws of Motion · GCSE GCSE Physics revision
This diagram covers Newton's Second Law in Action within Newton's Laws of Motion for GCSE Physics. Revise Newton's Laws of Motion in Forces for GCSE Physics with 24 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 5 of 15 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
Topic position
Section 5 of 15
Practice
24 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📊 Newton's Second Law in Action
SAME FORCE, DIFFERENT MASSES: (100 N applied to each)
| Object | Mass | Force | Calculation | Acceleration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light box | 10 kg | 100 N | a = 100/10 | 10 m/s² |
| Heavy box | 50 kg | 100 N | a = 100/50 | 2 m/s² |
Lighter object accelerates MORE with same force
SAME MASS, DIFFERENT FORCES: (20 kg object)
| Scenario | Mass | Force | Calculation | Acceleration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small push | 20 kg | 50 N | a = 50/20 | 2.5 m/s² |
| Big push | 20 kg | 200 N | a = 200/20 | 10 m/s² |
More force = MORE acceleration
Quick Check: A resultant force of 60 N acts on a 12 kg trolley. What is its acceleration?
a = F ÷ m = 60 ÷ 12 = 5 m/s². Always use the RESULTANT force (the net combined force), not just any individual force.
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Newton's Laws of Motion. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Newton's Laws of Motion
According to Newton's First Law, what happens to an object when there is no resultant force acting on it?
A spaceship is travelling through deep space far from any planets. The engines are switched off. Explain what will happen to the motion of the spaceship and why.
Quick Recall Flashcards
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