NREMT Paramedic Practice

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, what is the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration?

1. Force = mass + acceleration

2. Force = mass / acceleration

3. Force = mass x acceleration

4. Force = acceleration / mass

The correct answer is: Force = mass x acceleration

The correct relationship according to Newton's Second Law of Motion is that force equals mass times acceleration. This can be expressed with the formula \( F = m \times a \). In this equation, force (F) is measured in newtons (N), mass (m) is in kilograms (kg), and acceleration (a) is in meters per second squared (m/s²). This principle describes how the acceleration of an object depends on the net force acting upon it and the mass of the object. A greater force applied to an object results in greater acceleration, while an increase in mass results in decreased acceleration if the same force is applied. This fundamental concept is essential for understanding dynamics in physics, especially in fields related to motion, such as emergency medical response when considering the impact force in vehicle collisions during trauma assessments. Other formulas presented do not accurately convey the relationship as defined by Newton's law. For instance, adding mass and acceleration together, dividing mass by acceleration, or dividing acceleration by mass do not reflect the correct interaction of these three variables in producing force. This understanding is crucial for paramedics when evaluating situations involving physics, such as the mechanics of injuries.