What does Newton's Second Law state about the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration?

Newton's Second Law of Motion establishes a fundamental relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. It can be stated as "Force equals mass times acceleration," often expressed mathematically as F = ma. This equation implies that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting upon it and inversely proportional to its mass.

When a net force is applied to an object, it results in acceleration, which depends on both the magnitude of the force and the mass of the object; more significant forces lead to greater acceleration, while heavier objects (greater mass) will experience less acceleration for the same applied force. This relationship is crucial in understanding the dynamics of motion in physics and illustrates how these three variables interact with each other in the context of movement and force application.

The other options do not accurately reflect the principles established by Newton's Second Law. For instance, the assertion regarding mass being irrelevant to the force applied overlooks the critical role mass plays in determining acceleration. Similarly, the idea that acceleration is independent of force conflicts directly with the law, and the notion that mass decreases as force increases does not align with the law's principles regarding mass being a constant property of an object unless acted on by external factors.