A student is investigating mass and acceleration. The student applies the same force of 40 N force to two boxes that have the same size and shape. Box 1 experiences an acceleration of 10 m/s^2 and box 2 experiences an acceleration of 5m/s^2. The student claims that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2. Which argument best supports the student's claim?(1 point) Responses Heavier objects need less force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate. Heavier objects need less 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. Lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate. Lighter objects need greater force than heavier objects to start moving but will 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. Heavier objects need greater force than lighter objects to accelerate at the same rate.
The argument that "lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate" best supports the student's claim. This is because the student applies the same force to both boxes, but box 1 accelerates at a higher rate than box 2. According to Newton's second law of motion, F = ma, where F is the force applied, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration. Since the force is the same for both boxes, but the acceleration is higher for box 1, this implies that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2.
a b cor d
The correct answer is option C: "Lighter objects need less force than heavier objects to start moving but will accelerate at the same rate." This argument supports the student's claim because the student applies the same force to both boxes, but box 1 experiences a higher acceleration than box 2. According to Newton's second law of motion, the force required to accelerate an object is directly proportional to its mass. Therefore, if both boxes have the same force applied to them but box 1 accelerates more, it implies that box 1 must have a smaller mass than box 2.
