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Multiple Choice

Which of Newton's laws states that the rate of change of a body's momentum is proportional to the force applied to it?

The rate at which momentum changes is governed by the net external force acting on an object. Momentum is defined as p = m v, so the rate of change is dp/dt. Newton's second law tells us that this rate of change equals the applied force: F = dp/dt. If the mass stays constant, this reduces to F = m a, showing that force directly controls acceleration and thus how quickly momentum changes. For example, pushing harder on a cart increases the acceleration and increases the speed at which its momentum grows. If the mass isn't constant, the relation still holds in the form F = d(mv)/dt, though you must account for changing mass as well. The other Newton’s laws describe different ideas: inertia for objects in motion or at rest in the absence of net force, and action-reaction pairs, while the law of gravitation explains the gravitational attraction between masses.

The rate at which momentum changes is governed by the net external force acting on an object. Momentum is defined as p = m v, so the rate of change is dp/dt. Newton's second law tells us that this rate of change equals the applied force: F = dp/dt. If the mass stays constant, this reduces to F = m a, showing that force directly controls acceleration and thus how quickly momentum changes. For example, pushing harder on a cart increases the acceleration and increases the speed at which its momentum grows. If the mass isn't constant, the relation still holds in the form F = d(mv)/dt, though you must account for changing mass as well. The other Newton’s laws describe different ideas: inertia for objects in motion or at rest in the absence of net force, and action-reaction pairs, while the law of gravitation explains the gravitational attraction between masses.