Question

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. The student claims that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2. Which argument best supports the student's claim?(1 point)ResponsesLighter 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.Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to 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 less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.

Answer 1

The argument that best supports the student's claim is: Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.

This is derived from Newton's second law of motion, which states that \( F = ma \) (force equals mass times acceleration). Since both boxes are subjected to the same force (40 N), but box 1 accelerates more (10 m/s²) compared to box 2 (5 m/s²), it must have a smaller mass. Therefore, the reasoning that heavier objects require greater force to achieve the same acceleration supports the student's claim that box 1 (less mass) accelerates more than box 2 (greater mass) under the same force.