A resultant force of 30 N acts on a trolley of mass 6.0 kg. Calculate the acceleration of the trolley.
[2 marks]
Total for this question: 2
All equation deep-dives
Newton's second law
Forces
AQA 8463
On the equation sheet
ORIGINAL
F = m a
F is the RESULTANT force — add up the forces first, then use F = m a.
Current GCSE 8463 policy: The full AQA GCSE Physics 8463 equation sheet is provided with both papers in 2026; use fluency practice to learn selection and rearrangement, not to memorise the list.
Board and spec code confirmed against AQA 8463 · registry checked 2026-07-17How this checking works
Know the equation
| Symbol | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| F | resultant force | N |
| m | mass | kg |
| a | acceleration | m/s2 |
Rearrangements
- a = F / m
- m = F / a
Apply it — mark your own working
Work each one out on paper first, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the marks you actually earned. That is exactly how you should mark past papers.
Q1
Do the calculation on paper first — then mark it.
Where the marks get lost
- Using one force instead of the RESULTANT force (subtract friction or drag from the driving force first).
- Leaving the answer without the unit m/s2.
- Confusing mass (kg) with weight (N) — F = m a needs mass, not weight.
Exam tip: If the object moves at constant speed, the resultant force is zero, so a = 0. Spotting that saves you a calculation and is a common exam twist.
Still losing marks on the calculations?
I'll go through your working line by line and show you exactly where the marks are. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.
Stuck on newtons second law?
Everything here stays free. If newtons second law is where the marks keep going, I teach it one to one from the mark schemes. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.