Which law states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration?

The law that states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of that object multiplied by its acceleration is Newton's Second Law. This principle is often expressed using the formula ( F = ma ), where ( F ) represents the net force applied to the object, ( m ) represents the mass of the object, and ( a ) is the acceleration produced by that force. This law explains how the motion of an object changes in response to the forces exerted on it, establishing a direct relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.

In contrast, Newton's First Law describes the concept of inertia, stating that an object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force. Meanwhile, Newton's Third Law indicates that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, highlighting the interaction between two objects rather than the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. The Law of Universal Gravitation focuses specifically on the attraction between masses, rather than the broader context of force and motion articulated in Newton's Second Law.