Which law describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration?

The law that describes the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration is Newton's second law. This fundamental principle states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration, which is often expressed in the formula F = ma. This law illustrates how the acceleration of an object depends on the net force acting upon it and its mass; greater forces result in greater acceleration, provided the mass remains constant.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in various fields, including mechanics and engineering, as it helps in analyzing motion and the dynamics of systems, such as those in gas turbine operations. For example, when examining how changes in fuel input affect turbine performance, this law helps predict how the system will respond to those changes in terms of acceleration and output force.

The other laws referenced do not directly describe this relationship: Newton's first law pertains to inertia and the motion of objects in the absence of net force, while the third law deals with action and reaction forces. The law of conservation of energy addresses the transformation of energy rather than the relationship involving force, mass, and acceleration.