# What is a Newton in Physics?

• As per the international system of units (often abbreviated to SI), the Newton is the derived unit of force which is denoted by the symbol N. This unit is named after the English mathematician and physicist Sir Issac Newton (who is regarded by many as the “Father of calculus”).
• One Newton of force can be defined as the amount of force required to accelerate an object having a mass of one kilogram at a rate of one meter per square second in the same direction as the direction of the applied force. The SI base unit of the Newton is a kilogram. meter.second-2 (or kg.m.s-2).
• The force (in Newtons) can be calculated as the product of the mass of the object (to which the force was applied) and the resulting acceleration of the object.

Laws of motion are also defined by the scientist and are called Newton’s laws of motion

• Newton’s 1st law states, “that a body at rest or uniform motion will continue to be at rest or uniform motion until and unless a net external force acts on it.”
• Newton’s 2nd law states that “the acceleration of an object as produced by a net force is directly proportional to the magnitude of the net force, in the same direction as the net force, and inversely proportional to the mass of the object”.
• Newton’s 3rd law states, “that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”.