A student pushes a 2.85 kg cart causing it to accelerate at a rate of 4.9 m/s squared. What amount of force must the student have used? (2 sig digs)

In order to find the force (F), you would have to use the formula for it:

F=ma

where m is mass and a is acceleration.

In the problem, the mass is 2.85kg and the acceleration is 4.9m/s^2.

Therefore,

F=2.85kg (4.9m/s^2)

F=13.965kg (m/s^2)

Since N=kg (m/s^2)

F=13.965N

And because the problem requires that we use only 2 significant figures,

F=13N

Therefore, the student must exert 13N of force.