In terms of force and mass, how is acceleration defined?

Acceleration is defined by Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. This relationship is mathematically expressed by the equation:

[ a = \frac{F_{\text{net}}}{m} ]

where ( a ) represents acceleration, ( F_{\text{net}} ) is the net force applied to the object, and ( m ) is the mass of the object. This means that for a given force, a larger mass will result in a smaller acceleration, while a smaller mass will lead to a larger acceleration if the same force is applied.

This principle is fundamental in understanding how forces affect the motion of objects in the physical world, and it demonstrates the interplay between force, mass, and the resulting acceleration. Thus, the option indicating that acceleration is the net force divided by mass accurately reflects this foundational relationship in physics.