NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam

Newton's second law states that acceleration of an object is:

1. Independent of the mass of the object

2. Inversely proportional to the force applied

3. Proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to its mass

4. Constant regardless of applied force

The correct answer is: Proportional to the force applied and inversely proportional to its mass

Newton's second law articulates the relationship between an object's mass, the net force acting on it, and its acceleration. Specifically, it states that an object's acceleration is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This can be mathematically represented as \( F = ma \), where \( F \) is the net force, \( m \) is mass, and \( a \) is acceleration. When a greater force is applied to an object, it results in a greater acceleration, assuming the mass remains constant. Conversely, if the mass of the object increases while the force remains unchanged, the acceleration will decrease—this is the essence of being inversely proportional to mass. Therefore, the correct statement captures both dynamics of force and mass, establishing a clear understanding of how these variables interact to influence acceleration.