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 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 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 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 argument aligns with Newton's second law of motion (F = ma), which states that the force applied on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration. Since box 1 accelerates more (10 m/s²) than box 2 (5 m/s²) with the same force (40 N), it follows that box 1 must have a smaller mass. If both boxes were to experience the same force but different accelerations, the box that accelerates more must indeed have a smaller mass.