What is Newton's second law of motion?

Newton's second law of motion states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration. This relationship is succinctly expressed in the formula F = ma, where F represents the force applied, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration produced. This law illustrates how a larger mass requires more force to achieve the same acceleration as a smaller mass. Additionally, it establishes the directional relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, indicating that acceleration occurs in the direction of the net force acting on the object. This principle is fundamental in understanding the dynamics of motion in physics, as it provides a quantitative measure of how much an object's motion will change in response to applied forces.

Other formulations like F = mv and F = mg are specific cases: F = mv relates to momentum, and F = mg specifies the force due to gravity acting on an object with mass m. The expression F = ma² is not recognized as it does not align with established physical laws.