Three objects, A, B, and C, each with different masses, are acted upon by the same net force. Which object experiences the greatest acceleration?

• A. Object C, which has a mass equal to the average of A and B
• B. All objects experience the same acceleration
• C. Object A, which has the smallest mass
• D. Object B, which has the largest mass

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall Newton's Second Law of Motion, which states that the acceleration \(a\) of an object is directly proportional to the net force \(F\) acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass \(m\). This is expressed as \(a = \frac{F}{m}\).
2. Since all three objects A, B, and C experience the same net force \(F\), the difference in their accelerations depends only on their masses.
3. Identify the masses of the objects: Object A has the smallest mass, Object B has the largest mass, and Object C has a mass equal to the average of A and B.
4. Apply the formula \(a = \frac{F}{m}\) to each object. Because \(F\) is constant, the object with the smallest mass will have the greatest acceleration, and the object with the largest mass will have the smallest acceleration.
5. Conclude that Object A, having the smallest mass, experiences the greatest acceleration under the same net force.