In F = ma, if F is in newtons and m in kilograms, what are the units of acceleration?

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Multiple Choice

In F = ma, if F is in newtons and m in kilograms, what are the units of acceleration?

Explanation:
Acceleration is how fast velocity changes. From F = ma, solve for a to get a = F/m. If force is in newtons and mass in kilograms, the unit of acceleration is newtons per kilogram. Since 1 newton equals 1 kilogram times meter per second squared, N/kg simplifies to m/s^2. So the proper unit for acceleration is meters per second squared. The other options don’t describe a rate of change of velocity: kg·m/s is momentum, J/s is power, and N/kg is equivalent to m/s^2 but the standard expression is m/s^2.

Acceleration is how fast velocity changes. From F = ma, solve for a to get a = F/m. If force is in newtons and mass in kilograms, the unit of acceleration is newtons per kilogram. Since 1 newton equals 1 kilogram times meter per second squared, N/kg simplifies to m/s^2. So the proper unit for acceleration is meters per second squared. The other options don’t describe a rate of change of velocity: kg·m/s is momentum, J/s is power, and N/kg is equivalent to m/s^2 but the standard expression is m/s^2.

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