Required Practical: Acceleration

This lesson covers the required practical investigation into the effect of force and mass on the acceleration of an object, as required by the AQA GCSE Physics specification (4.5.6). This practical tests Newton's second law (F = m x a) and is one of the key required practicals for GCSE Physics. You must know the method, equipment, variables, results analysis, and safety precautions.

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The Theory: Newton's Second Law

Newton's second law states:

The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the resultant force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

The equation is:

F = m x a

Where:

• F = resultant force (N)
• m = mass (kg)
• a = acceleration (m/s^2)

Rearranging:

• a = F / m (acceleration = force / mass)
• m = F / a (mass = force / acceleration)

This means:

• Increasing the force increases the acceleration (if mass is constant).
• Increasing the mass decreases the acceleration (if force is constant).