Question

Consider the relationship of the variables in Newton’s second law. In a drag car race, the force applied to the car is doubled by the driver stepping on the gas pedal.

The acceleration of the car will
.

The mass of the car will
.

The velocity of the car will

Answer 1

In Newton's second law, the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is given by the equation:

\[ F = m \cdot a \]

where \( F \) is the force applied, \( m \) is the mass of the object, and \( a \) is its acceleration.

Let's analyze the scenario:

1. **The force applied to the car is doubled.**
- If the force \( F \) is doubled, and assuming the mass \( m \) of the car remains constant, the acceleration \( a \) will also double. This is because \( a = \frac{F}{m} \). Therefore:
- The acceleration of the car will **double**.

2. **The mass of the car will not change.**
- In this scenario, the mass \( m \) of the car remains constant. So:
- The mass of the car will **remain the same**.

3. **The velocity of the car will change.**
- Velocity is related to acceleration over time. If the acceleration doubles, and the car continues to accelerate under the new, increased force, its velocity will increase more rapidly than it did before. The actual change in velocity will depend on how long the force is applied, but it is clear that:
- The velocity of the car will **increase**.

In summary:
- The acceleration of the car will **double**.
- The mass of the car will **remain the same**.
- The velocity of the car will **increase**.