What Does the Slope of a Force vs. Acceleration Graph Indicate?

[psychosushi]

in force versus acceleration graph:
1. Which one is the dependent variable and which is independent?
2. what does the slope of the force vs acceleration graph represent?

 

[saunderson]

Hi psychosushi,

to 1: it's a symmetric problem, force and acceleration is correlated

to 2: slope of the graph is the mass of the object, which is accelerated (But remember, you can't raise the effective force without raising the acceleration!)

(i think you won't treat relativistic effects!)

 

[psychosushi]

if the slope is mass
then it should be constant?
mass can't just change right?

 

[saunderson]

yes, the slope=mass is constant!

at higher velocity mass can change but at lower velocity there is no effect on the mass!

So in our everyday life mass can approximated as constant.

 

[psychosushi]

okie dokie thanks
:)