Slope Represents Newton's Second Law

[the.flea]

[SOLVED] Newtons Second Law

Homework Statement

On a force/mass vs acceleration graph where force/mass is horizontal, what does the slope represent?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

My calclations: ex. (2m/s^2 - 1m/s^2)/(3 N/kg - 1N/kg)
=.5 (m/s^2)/(N/kg)

N=kg/m/s^2 so the all units cancel out

the Units of the slope can be simplified to elimiate all units so we are left with a unitless answer. What does it represent?

 

[lippyka]

The slope of this graph represents the acceleration of an object for a given force. It is equal to the change in acceleration divided by the change in force per unit mass, or the acceleration divided by the force per unit mass.

 

[Moetasim]

The slope on a force/mass vs acceleration graph represents the acceleration divided by the force/mass. This is equivalent to Newton's Second Law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration (F=ma). Therefore, the slope of the graph represents the mass of the object.