A student is investigating mass and acceleration. The student applies the same force to two boxes, as shown in the table.

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 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.
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.

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 statement aligns with Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma). Therefore, if the same force is applied to both boxes and one box accelerates, it must have a smaller mass than the other box that does not accelerate as much or at all.