Understanding the Concepts

* Newton's Second Law of Motion: This law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. Mathematically:

* F = m * a

* F = net force (in Newtons)

* m = mass (in kilograms)

* a = acceleration (in meters per second squared)

Solving the Problem

1. Identify the knowns:

* F = 12 Newtons

* m = 3 kilograms

2. Rearrange the formula to solve for acceleration (a):

* a = F / m

3. Substitute the values and calculate:

* a = 12 N / 3 kg

* a = 4 m/s²

Answer: The acceleration of the 3 kilogram object is 4 meters per second squared.