Need help finding the relationship between force and acceleration

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the relationship between force and acceleration, specifically how to sketch a force-time graph based on a given acceleration graph. The acceleration oscillates between positive and negative values, indicating varying forces applied to the object. The key takeaway is that the force graph is the derivative of the acceleration graph, and both graphs share a similar shape due to Newton's second law (F=ma). When acceleration and velocity are constant, both force and acceleration are zero.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's second law (F=ma)
  • Basic knowledge of graphing functions
  • Familiarity with derivatives in calculus
  • Concept of oscillatory motion
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Newton's second law in various contexts
  • Learn how to derive force graphs from acceleration graphs
  • Explore oscillatory motion and its mathematical representations
  • Investigate the implications of constant velocity on force and acceleration
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of force and acceleration relationships.

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Homework Statement



A force is applied that makes an object move with the acceleration shown below. Assuming that friction is negligible, sketch a force-time graph of the force on the object on the axes below.

Since i don't have a scanner. Let me describe the graph of the acceleration. It oscillates from positive 1 to negative 1.5, then to positive two, then negative 1.5 then to positive 1 and evens out. So there are three humps within 5 seconds.

i don't know the relationship between the acceleration graph and force graph so i am stuck here. I know that they have to be in the same direction because 'a force [was] applied that made the object move'. But how will the graph of the force vs time look. Will it just be the derivative of the acceleration graph?
 
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I may be wrong here, but I think Newton came up with a famous equation that relates force to acceleration.
 
well i was looking more for "the acceleration is the slope of the velocity graph" but in regards to force and acceleration.

another example would be the velocity is the slope of the position graph.

so, if i may add another question: what is the force graph in relation to the acceleration graph. if the velocity graph and acclertaion graph are both constant, that is that they are both horizontal lines; what will the force graph look like?
 
if the velocity is constant, than acc. and force are zero.

Another thing - the graph of force and acceleration (with respect to a common variable, say time) basically have the SAME shape (f=ma, m being a scalar).
Absolute values will change according to the value of mass in the equation above.
 

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