What is described by a linear relationship between force and acceleration, influenced by the mass of an object?

The correct answer refers to Newton's second law, 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 is formally represented by the equation ( F = ma ), where ( F ) is the net force, ( m ) is the mass, and ( a ) is the acceleration.

A key aspect of this law is the linear relationship it establishes: as the force acting on an object increases, the acceleration of that object also increases, assuming the mass remains constant. Likewise, if the mass of the object increases while the force remains constant, the acceleration will decrease. This fundamental relationship is crucial in understanding motion in physics and engineering, as it links the concepts of force, mass, and acceleration in a straightforward manner.

Other options describe different principles in physics. Newton's first law relates to the condition of motion and the concept of inertia, while D'Alembert's principle involves the concept of dynamics in a more abstract way through virtual work. Hooke's law is specific to the behavior of elastic materials, describing how they deform under force but does not deal directly with mass and acceleration in the way that Newton's second law does.