How are acceleration and mass related under Newton's second law?

[Ki-nana18]

According to Newton's second law, how are acceleration and mass related? Directly or indirectly when force is constant?

I believe it indirectly. Am I right?

 

[kuruman]

Do you understand the difference between "directly" and "indirectly"?

 

[Ki-nana18]

I guess not. Would you mind explaining it? I was under the impression that indirectly means the same as inversely.

 

[kuruman]

You do know the difference. So if the relation is "indirectly" when one quantity is, say, doubled, the other one has to be halved.

Now look at Newton's Second Law. If the mass is doubled but the force has to stay the same what ought to happen to the acceleration? Is it halved or also doubled?

 

[Ki-nana18]

It's halved.

 

[kuruman]

And your answer to the question then is ...

 

[Ki-nana18]

Indirectly.

 

[kuruman]

Bingo!

 

[Ki-nana18]

Thank you!