Which of the following correctly describes mass's effect on acceleration?

The correct choice accurately describes the relationship between mass and acceleration as explained 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 can be mathematically expressed as ( F = ma ), where ( F ) is the force, ( m ) is the mass, and ( a ) is the acceleration.

When a constant force is applied to an object, if the mass of that object increases, the acceleration will decrease. This is because more mass means that there is more inertia to overcome, requiring more force to achieve the same acceleration. Therefore, when mass increases while keeping the force constant, the resultant acceleration will decrease.

In relation to the other options, they mischaracterize the mass-acceleration relationship. Some suggest that mass increases acceleration or has no relation to acceleration, which contradicts established physics principles. Others suggest that mass's effect is limited to vertical acceleration, which ignores the fact that the inversion of mass applies to acceleration regardless of the direction; it affects acceleration in all directions based on the net force applied.