According to Newton's second law, what is the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration?

Newton's second law states that the force acting on an object is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the acceleration produced. This relationship is mathematically expressed by the equation ( F = ma ), where ( F ) represents the force applied, ( m ) is the mass of the object, and ( a ) is the acceleration resulting from that force.

This foundational principle establishes that if you apply a greater force to an object, it will accelerate more, provided that the mass remains constant. Conversely, for a given force, an increase in mass will result in a decrease in acceleration. This inverse relationship showcases how mass resists changes in motion, described as inertia, while also highlighting how force is needed to change that motion.

In contrast, other options provide inaccurate formulations. For example, forces cannot be represented as mass divided by acceleration or through addition, as these do not capture the direct proportionality needed in the context of motion as outlined by Newton's second law.