Newton's Second Law Calculator
Calculate force, mass or acceleration using Newton's second law, force equals mass times acceleration, in newtons.
Last reviewed by the Radiatus Cloud team
Calculate force from mass and acceleration using F = ma.
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Apply Newton's second law
Newton's second law of motion states that the force acting on an object equals its mass multiplied by its acceleration. This calculator finds the force in newtons from a mass in kilograms and an acceleration in metres per second squared, so a ten-kilogram object accelerating at three metres per second squared experiences a force of thirty newtons. The law is one of the most important relationships in physics, defining how forces change the motion of objects.
Rearranged, the same law gives acceleration as force divided by mass, or mass as force divided by acceleration.
Force, mass and acceleration
Newton's second law underpins the whole of classical mechanics, from designing vehicles and structures to predicting the motion of planets. It explains why the same force produces a smaller acceleration on a heavier object, and why a given object needs more force to accelerate faster. The newton, the SI unit of force, is defined as the force needed to accelerate one kilogram at one metre per second squared.
Weight is a familiar force: an object's weight equals its mass times the acceleration due to gravity. Keep units in the SI system for a result in newtons. All calculation happens locally in your browser.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Newton\'s second law?
It states that force equals mass times acceleration, so the net force on an object determines how quickly its velocity changes.
What is a newton?
It is the SI unit of force, defined as the force needed to accelerate a one-kilogram mass at one metre per second squared.
How do I find acceleration instead?
Rearrange the law: acceleration equals force divided by mass. The same relationship solves for any of the three quantities.
Why do heavier objects accelerate less?
For the same force, a larger mass gives a smaller acceleration, because acceleration is force divided by mass.
How is weight related to this law?
Weight is the gravitational force on an object, equal to its mass times the acceleration due to gravity, about 9.81 metres per second squared on Earth.
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How to Use
Enter mass and acceleration to find the force.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Results are for educational and utility purposes.