Force is defined as the rate of change in momentum.
Momentum is simply defined as the product of mass and velocity.
momentum = mass, m * velocity,v
Thus, momentum = mv
This means that momentum is a quantity that is dependent on and proportional to mass and velocity.
Once again:
Force is defined as the rate of change in momentum.
Therefore, change in momentum = (mv2 - mv1) ........ equation (i)
where
v2 = final velocity
v1 = initial velocity
Rate means how fast or slow - which means a quantity divided by time or "the change in time".
So, the rate of change in momentum is
equation (i) / time,t
that is
(mv2 - mv1) / t
Taking m (the common factor) out from the equation
Force, F = m(v2 - v1) / t
ie
Force, F = m * (v2 - v1)/t........equation (ii)
Acceleration, a, is defined as the rate of change in velocity ie
a = (v2 - v1) / t................ equation (iii)
Substituting equation (ii) into equation (iii), we get
F = m * a
F = ma
Hence, the equation for force is mass * acceleration