PEAZIT Aha card
Go straight to resources ↓Mass, force and acceleration are different quantities
Mass describes inertia; net force changes velocity. Acceleration describes how quickly velocity changes.
| Quantity | Symbol and unit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | m; kg | Inertia |
| Net force | F; N | Combined effect of forces |
| Acceleration | a; m/s² | Velocity change per time |
One worked example
- Cart: m = 2 kg; F = 6 NF is the net force, not just one of several forces.
- a = F ÷ m = 6 ÷ 2Use Newton’s relation for constant mass.
- a = 3 m/s²With constant acceleration, velocity changes by 3 m/s each second in the force direction.
Watch out: Zero net force means zero acceleration, not necessarily rest. A body can continue moving at constant velocity.
Goal, prerequisites and card origin
What you will learn: Distinguish three quantities and their units.
What you need first: Meaning of speed and simple multiplication.
An original PEAZIT working card. Independent expert review and effectiveness testing have not yet taken place. · v1
Show connections
Mass describes inertia; net force changes velocity. Acceleration describes how quickly velocity changes.