Newton’s second law application — find the force needed What constant force must be applied to a body of mass 100 kg to produce an acceleration of 5 m/s^2?

Introduction / Context:
This is a direct application of Newton’s second law of motion, which relates force, mass, and acceleration. It is a staple calculation in engineering mechanics and physics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Mass m = 100 kg.
• Desired acceleration a = 5 m/s^2.
• Motion in a straight line; neglect friction and other resistances.

Concept / Approach:
Newton’s second law states that the net force F required to produce an acceleration a on a mass m is F = m * a. This relationship is linear: doubling the mass or the acceleration doubles the required force.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
If the same 500 N acted on a 50 kg body, the acceleration would be 10 m/s^2, consistent with the linear relationship. Scaling checks help confirm arithmetic.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 20 N, 50 N, 100 N: Too small to generate the specified acceleration for a 100 kg mass.
• None of these: Incorrect because 500 N is available as an option and is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing weight with mass (weight = m * g). Here we are asked for net force to create a given acceleration, not the weight of the object.

Final Answer:
500 N