By Ankit Gupta
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Updated on 25 Apr 2025, 15:15 IST
Have you ever wondered why a football moves faster when you kick it harder? Or why a heavier box is harder to push than a lighter one? The answer to these everyday questions lies in Newton’s Second Law of Motion. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists of all time, gave us three laws of motion. These laws describe how objects move and interact with forces. In this article, we’ll focus on Newton's Second Law of Motion in detail.
So, what is Newton's Second Law of Motion?
The second law of motion explains how the force applied to an object affects its motion. In simple terms:
Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the acceleration of an object depends on the force applied to it and its mass.
Mathematically, it is written as:
F = ma
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Where:
This means, if you apply a larger force to an object, it will accelerate more. But if the object is heavy (more mass), it will accelerate less for the same force.
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To define the second law of motion in simple terms:
This law helps us calculate how fast something will move when we apply a certain amount of force.
For students in school, especially second law of motion class 9, this is how you can state Newton’s Second Law of Motion:
The rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction of the force.
This is the official definition used in science textbooks.
Let’s look at the derivation of Newton’s Second Law of Motion step by step.
Momentum (p) of an object is defined as:
p = m × v
where m
is mass and v
is velocity.
The change in momentum over time is:
(mv - mu)/t
where u
is initial velocity, v
is final velocity, and t
is time.
According to Newton:
Force (F) = rate of change of momentum
So,
F = (mv - mu)/t
F = m(v - u)/t
F = ma
because (v - u)/t = a
(acceleration)
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Let’s look at some second law of motion examples that you see in real life:
Example | Explanation |
Kicking a Ball | A stronger kick (more force) makes the ball move faster (more acceleration). |
Pushing a Car vs. a Bicycle | The same force makes the bicycle move faster than the car because the car has more mass. |
Dropping two different weights | Both fall at the same speed, but if you push them, the heavier one accelerates less. |
Hitting a baseball with a bat | The harder you hit (more force), the faster the ball moves. |
Lifting a bag | You apply more force to lift a heavier bag compared to a light one. |
These are all real-life Newton’s Second Law of Motion examples.
Let’s simplify the second law of motion definition even more:
Force is equal to mass times acceleration. More force = more speed, and more weight = slower acceleration.
That’s it! This law shows how motion changes when you push or pull something.
The application of Newton’s Second Law of Motion can be seen in various areas of science, sports, and daily life. Let’s see some of them:
Field | Application |
Sports | Athletes apply force to jump higher or throw farther. |
Engineering | Calculating how much force is needed to move a machine part. |
Vehicles | Car design involves calculating force for braking and acceleration. |
Space Science | Rocket launch uses Newton’s Second Law to calculate thrust. |
Safety Equipment | Airbags in cars reduce force by increasing the time during impact. |
These applications make life better and safer using Newton’s Second Law of Motion.
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Now let’s explain the second law of motion with a deeper example:
Imagine two people are pushing shopping carts. One cart is empty and the other is full. If they both push with the same force:
Why? Because the full cart has more mass. This is exactly what Newton’s Second Law of Motion says.
For students, especially in class 9, the second law of motion is a foundation for understanding forces and motion.
Why is it important?
So, when you state Newton's Second Law of Motion class 9, remember: it’s not just theory – it’s how the world moves!
Problem: A 2 kg block has forces of 20 N (right) and 30 N (left). What’s the acceleration?
Solution: Net Force = 30 N - 20 N = 10 N (left)
Acceleration = F / m = -10 N / 2 kg = -5 m/s² (leftward)
Problem: How much force is needed to accelerate a 1000 kg car at 4 m/s²?
Solution: F = ma = 1000 kg × 4 m/s² = 4000 N
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Law | Description |
First Law | Objects remain at rest or move at constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. |
Second Law (F = ma) | Force causes acceleration proportional to mass and net force. |
Third Law | For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. |
Newton’s Second Law is more than a physics principle—it’s part of everyday life, from pushing swings to designing race cars. Understanding F = ma helps us predict, calculate, and control motion.
Thrust causes acceleration. As fuel burns and mass decreases, acceleration increases.
Greater speed or mass results in more force during a crash.
The Law of Force and Acceleration.
Throwing a ball, driving, or objects falling all involve F = ma.
The rate of change of momentum of an object is directly proportional to the applied force and takes place in the direction of the force
Here are some simple second law of motion examples:
Kicking a football harder makes it move faster.
A heavier trolley needs more force to push than a lighter one.
A cricket ball moves farther when hit with more force.
These are all daily applications of Newton's Second Law of Motion.
The derivation of Newton's Second Law of Motion is based on momentum.
Momentum (p) = mass × velocity
Change in momentum over time = Force
Using formulas, we get:
F = ma
So, to derive Newton’s Second Law of Motion, we use the concept of acceleration and momentum.