42. Which statement describes the relationship between mass and acceleration when the net force on an object is kept constant?
Answer: D
Mass and acceleration are inversely proportional when the net force is constant.
When the net force on an object is kept constant, increasing the mass of the object results in a decrease in its acceleration, indicating that mass and acceleration are inversely proportional.
A) Mass and acceleration are not correlated.
This statement is incorrect because mass and acceleration are indeed correlated through Newton's second law of motion. When the net force is constant, changes in mass directly affect acceleration, establishing a clear relationship.
B) Mass and acceleration are quadratically related.
This option is incorrect as it suggests a quadratic relationship, which does not apply in this context. According to Newton's second law, acceleration is linearly related to force and inversely related to mass, not in a quadratic manner.
C) Mass and acceleration are directly proportional.
This statement is also incorrect. Direct proportionality would imply that as mass increases, acceleration increases, which contradicts the principle that with a constant net force, an increase in mass leads to a decrease in acceleration.
D) Mass and acceleration are inversely proportional.
This statement is correct. According to Newton's second law of motion, when the net force is constant, an increase in mass leads to a decrease in acceleration, thus establishing an inverse relationship between the two.
Conclusion
The correct answer, that mass and acceleration are inversely proportional, directly aligns with the principles of Newton's second law. All other options misinterpret the relationship between mass, acceleration, and force, failing to recognize the fundamental inverse relationship that governs motion under constant net force conditions.