The student claims that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2. Which argument best supports the student's claim?
Heavier objects need less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.
Lighter objects need greater force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.
.
Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.
.
Lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate.
The argument that best supports the student's claim is: Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.
The argument that best supports the student's claim is "Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate."
To determine which argument best supports the student's claim, we need to understand the relationship between mass and force when it comes to acceleration. The second law of motion, also known as Newton's second law, states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).
Based on this law, we can analyze the arguments:
1. "Heavier objects need less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate." - This argument is inconsistent with Newton's second law. According to the law, heavier objects require greater force to accelerate at the same rate, not less force. Therefore, this argument does not support the student's claim.
2. "Lighter objects need greater force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate." - This argument suggests that lighter objects require greater force to overcome inertia and start moving. However, it acknowledges that lighter and heavier objects will then accelerate at the same rate once they are in motion. This argument does not directly support the student's claim because it does not address the relative masses of the two boxes.
3. "Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate." - This argument aligns with Newton's second law, which states that the force required to accelerate an object is directly proportional to its mass. Heavier objects do indeed require greater force to achieve the same acceleration as lighter objects. Therefore, this argument best supports the student's claim that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2.