Physics Trivia : Equation of motion
What does equation of motion (F=ma) mean?
This equation comes from Newton's second law of motion which is stated by Isaac Newton(1642 ~ 1727) in "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica" at 1687.
The equation does not mean " The force is equal to the product of the weight and the acceleration."
A correct answer is that it shows the causal relation of "When force (F [N]) is acted on object (m [kg]), acceleration (a [m/s2]) occurs."
The second law of movement states that the acceleration of an object is dependent upon two variables - the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object.
The acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object.