Liz puts a 1 kg weight and a 10 kg on identical sleds. She then applies a 10N force to each sled. Which does not explain why the smaller weight accelerate faster?

Question

Responses

A The larger mass spends more force overcoming inertia.The larger mass spends more force overcoming inertia.
B The smaller weight exerts less frictional force to overcome.The smaller weight exerts less frictional force to overcome.
C The acceleration depends directly on the mass of the object.The acceleration depends directly on the mass of the object.
D The motion of the sled relates to action of unbalanced forces.

Answer 1

The statement that does not explain why the smaller weight accelerates faster is:

C. The acceleration depends directly on the mass of the object.

This statement is misleading because, according to Newton's second law (F = ma), the acceleration of an object is inversely proportional to its mass when a constant force is applied. Thus, for a given force, a smaller mass will accelerate faster, not that acceleration depends directly on mass. The other options correctly relate to the reasons the smaller weight accelerates faster.