Which property of an object does the second law of motion explain?

The second law of motion, formulated by Sir Isaac Newton, relates directly to the acceleration of an object. This law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass, often expressed in the equation F = ma, where F represents force, m represents mass, and a represents acceleration.

This means that if a net force is applied to an object, it will accelerate in the direction of that force. The greater the force, the greater the acceleration, and for a given force, the heavier the object (greater mass) results in less acceleration. Hence, this law effectively describes how the velocity of an object changes over time due to forces acting upon it, but it is the concept of acceleration that is specifically addressed in Newton's second law.

Understanding that acceleration is a key concept in dynamics helps students grasp the principles of motion, force, and mass, laying the groundwork for deeper studies in physics and engineering, particularly in systems where forces and motion are relevant, such as robotics.