Which example illustrates Newton’s second law?
A. A wheelbarrow remains stationary when no one pushes on it.
B. More mass is added to a wheelbarrow, and a larger force is
required to move it.
C. A person pushes a wheelbarrow, causing it to move forward.
D. The force of a wheelbarrow on the ground is equal to the force of
the ground on the wheelbarrow.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. More mass is added to a wheelbarrow, and a larger force is required to move it.
Explanation:
Newton’s second law of motion states that the acceleration of an object depends on two main factors: the net force acting upon the object and the object’s mass. Mathematically, this law is expressed as:
[ F = ma ]
Where:
- F is the net force applied to the object.
- m is the mass of the object.
- a is the acceleration produced by the force.
This law highlights a direct relationship between force and acceleration and an inverse relationship between mass and acceleration. Essentially, to accelerate an object, a force must be applied, and the greater the object’s mass, the more force is required to achieve the same level of acceleration.
In option B, we see that adding more mass to the wheelbarrow increases the amount of force needed to move it. This directly corresponds to Newton’s second law because, as mass increases, the force required to maintain the same acceleration increases proportionally. Therefore, if you want to move the heavier wheelbarrow at the same speed, you would need to apply more force.
Options A and C represent concepts from Newton’s first law of motion (inertia), where objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Option D refers to Newton’s third law, which deals with action-reaction pairs, where forces exerted between two objects are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.
Thus, option B illustrates Newton’s second law because it shows the direct relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.