If you double the net force on an object while mass stays the same, what happens to acceleration?

If you double the net force on an object while mass stays the same, what happens to acceleration?

• A. It stays the same
• B. It becomes four times
• C. It doubles
• D. It halves

Answer: (C)

Acceleration depends on how much net force acts on an object relative to its mass. Newton's second law states a = F_net / m. If you keep mass the same and double the net force, the acceleration must double because the numerator doubles while the denominator stays constant. Think of it like pushing harder on an object with the same weight—the rate at which its velocity changes increases proportionally. For example, if the object accelerates at 2 m/s^2 under a certain force, doubling that force makes it accelerate at 4 m/s^2. The other possibilities would require a different relationship between force and acceleration than the one described by a = F_net / m when mass is constant.

Acceleration depends on how much net force acts on an object relative to its mass. Newton's second law states a = F_net / m. If you keep mass the same and double the net force, the acceleration must double because the numerator doubles while the denominator stays constant. Think of it like pushing harder on an object with the same weight—the rate at which its velocity changes increases proportionally. For example, if the object accelerates at 2 m/s^2 under a certain force, doubling that force makes it accelerate at 4 m/s^2. The other possibilities would require a different relationship between force and acceleration than the one described by a = F_net / m when mass is constant.