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Lesson 11 · F = ma, asked every way
One law, three sockets
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One law, three sockets

F=maF = ma — F equals m a, net force in newtons, mass in kilograms, acceleration in m/s2\mathrm{m/s^2} — is one fact wearing three outfits: solve it for FF, for mm, or for aa, and it answers three different exam questions. The ladder is the one you know: pick the formula, rearrange it for what you want, put the numbers in their sockets, and only then compute.

And run the free check first: kg⋅m/s2\mathrm{kg \cdot m/s^2} is exactly a newton, so F=maF = ma survives the units test — that is no accident, it is where the newton COMES from. Push the units through your rearrangement every time: if they refuse to cancel into the answer's units, the rearrangement is wrong, no appeal. Units that do work out never prove you right — the check is a one-way street.

mFa

F=maF = m a

  • FF= Force (force)
  • mm= Mass (mass)
  • aa= Acceleration (acceleration)
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