Newton's Second Law of Motion
The fundamental principle governing this situation is Newton's Second Law of Motion:
* Force (F) = Mass (m) x Acceleration (a)
The Problem
* Force (F): The force propelling the object remains the same.
* Mass (m): The mass doubles (becomes twice as much).
* Acceleration (a): We need to find out what happens to the acceleration.
Solving for Acceleration
1. Original Situation: Let's assume the initial acceleration is 'a'.
* Force (F) = m x a
2. Doubled Mass: Now, the mass becomes 2m.
* Force (F) = (2m) x new acceleration
3. Relating the Equations: Since the force is constant, we can equate the two expressions:
* m x a = (2m) x new acceleration
4. Solving for New Acceleration: Divide both sides by 2m:
* a / 2 = new acceleration
Answer
If the mass of the object doubles, the acceleration will be halved.
