A student is investigating mass and acceleration. The student applies the same force of 40 N force to two boxes that have the same size and shape. Box 1 experiences an acceleration of 10 m/s^2 and box 2 experiences an acceleration of 5m/s^2.

Question

The student claims that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2. Which argument best supports the student's claim?(1 point)
Responses

Heavier objects need less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.
Heavier objects need less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.

Lighter objects need greater force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.
Lighter objects need greater force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.

Lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.
Lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.

Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.

Answer 1

The best argument to support the student's claim that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2 is:

Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.

This is based on Newton's second law of motion, which states that \( F = ma \). Since the same force (40 N) is applied to both boxes, the acceleration produced will depend on their masses. Box 1, with a higher acceleration (10 m/s²), must have a smaller mass than box 2, which has a lower acceleration (5 m/s²). Thus, the heavier object (box 2) requires more force to achieve the same acceleration as the lighter object (box 1).