What does Newton's second law of motion state?

Newton's second law of motion states that the acceleration of a body is directly proportional to the force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This can be expressed mathematically as F = ma, where F represents the force applied to the object, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration produced. This law emphasizes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, indicating that a greater force will result in a greater acceleration, while considering the mass's effect on how much an object will accelerate in response to that force.

This principle is crucial in understanding how objects move when different forces are applied, making it foundational in both physics and engineering. It allows us to predict how an object will behave under various conditions, emphasizing the importance of force in influencing motion.