Which of the following is the best example of Newton's second law?
A. A rolling ball comes to a stop because the forces of friction and gravity are acting upon it.
B. The acceleration of a skydiver depends upon the force of gravity and wind resistance.
C. As a boat propeller forces water in one direction, the boat moves in the opposite direction.
D. When a basketball strikes the ground, the ground exerts an upward force on the basketball.
I think the answer is B
To determine which of the options is the best example of Newton's second law, we first need to understand Newton's second law of motion. Newton's second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
Option A describes a rolling ball coming to a stop due to the forces of friction and gravity. While it involves forces, it doesn't directly depict the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Option B mentions that the acceleration of a skydiver depends on the force of gravity and wind resistance. This option aligns with Newton's second law, as it relates the acceleration of the skydiver to the net force acting on them (gravity and wind resistance) and doesn't involve other factors like friction or opposing forces.
Option C describes a boat propeller forcing water in one direction, causing the boat to move in the opposite direction. Although it involves force and motion, it doesn't clearly illustrate the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Option D states that when a basketball strikes the ground, the ground exerts an upward force on the basketball. While it involves forces, it doesn't explicitly address the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Based on the explanation, Option B is the best example of Newton's second law as it directly links the acceleration of the skydiver to the forces acting on them (gravity and wind resistance), which are in line with Newton's second law. Therefore, the answer is B.