According to Newton's second law, the force required to accelerate an object is equal to what?

Newton's second law of motion states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration. This relationship is usually expressed with the equation ( F = ma ), where ( F ) represents the force, ( m ) is the mass of the object, and ( a ) is the acceleration produced by the force.

This principle is fundamental in understanding how forces affect the motion of objects. When a net force acts on an object, it causes the object's velocity to change—either increasing or decreasing the speed, or changing directions. The greater the mass of the object, the more force is required to achieve a certain acceleration, which illustrates the inherent relationship described by this law.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the relationship defined by Newton's second law. Weight, volume, density, and speed interact in different ways that are not pertinent to the basic force-acceleration relationship described by the law. Hence, the correct understanding is captured in the equation ( F = ma ), making the choice aligned with Newton's second law.