Final answer:
Using Newton's second law of motion, F = ma, the net force acting on an object of mass 20 kg and accelerating at 0.5 m/s² is 10 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the net force acting on an object, we use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). The mass of the object is given as 20 kg, and the acceleration is given as 0.5 m/s². By applying this formula, we can calculate the net force as follows:
F = m × a = 20 kg × 0.5 m/s² = 10 N.
Therefore, the correct option for the net force acting on the object is 10 N, which corresponds to option 1.