Final answer:
The magnitude of the second force acting on the 5.0-kg object, given that it accelerates at 2.0 m/s² in the positive y-direction and there is a 12.0 N force in the positive x-direction, is 10.0 N in the positive y-direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to finding the magnitude of a second force acting on a 5.0-kg object that is experiencing an acceleration of 2.0 m/s² in the positive y-direction, given that one of the forces is 12.0 N in the positive x-direction. To solve for the second force, we can use Newton's second law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (Fnet = m × a). Since we are given the mass (5.0 kg) and the acceleration (2.0 m/s²), we can calculate the net force in the y-direction.
Thus, the net force in the y-direction is Fnet = 5.0 kg × 2.0 m/s² = 10.0 N. The 12.0 N force acts in the x-direction and does not affect the net force in the y-direction. Since the net force in the y-direction is purely due to the second force, the magnitude of the second force is also 10.0 N in the positive y-direction.
Note that if the question pertains to the net force on the object, the net force in the y-direction and the force in the x-direction would be combined using vector addition to find the resultant net force on the object. However, from the context, it seems the student is asking for the magnitude of the second force, which has been determined to be 10.0 N in the positive y-direction.