What is Newton's second law of motion?

Newton's second law of motion states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration. This is succinctly expressed by the equation F = ma. This relationship highlights the direct proportionality between the force applied to an object and the acceleration that results, assuming the mass remains constant. When more force is applied, the acceleration increases, and if the mass of the object is increased while the force remains constant, the acceleration will decrease.

In contrast, the other equations do not accurately represent this relationship. For example, dividing mass by acceleration or adding mass and acceleration does not convey the concept of force in the context of motion. This fundamental principle is critical in understanding how objects behave under various forces and is foundational to the study of physics.