In this experiment, I observed the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, which directly aligns with Newton's 2nd Law of Motion. When we increased the applied force while keeping the mass constant, we noted a corresponding increase in acceleration. This observation confirms the principle that when mass remains unchanged, acceleration is directly proportional to the applied force. For instance, using more force to push a cart resulted in the cart moving faster, illustrating how the acceleration increased as the force increased.
Conversely, when we kept the force constant and manipulated the mass, we discovered that increasing the mass resulted in a decrease in acceleration. This inverse relationship is consistent with the second part of Newton's 2nd Law, which states that when the force applied is constant, acceleration and mass are inversely proportional. For example, pushing a heavier cart with the same force as a lighter cart resulted in the heavier cart accelerating more slowly. This demonstrated that as the mass of the object increases, the acceleration produced by a constant force decreases.
Overall, the experimental observations effectively showcased the principles laid out in Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion, emphasizing the interconnected relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.