Final answer:
Applying Newton's second law, the acceleration of the cart with a 2N applied force cannot be predicted for forward motion since the force of friction (24N) exceeds the applied force, resulting in a negative net force and deceleration rather than acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
To predict the acceleration of the cart when a student performs the experiment again using 2N of force, we must apply Newton's second law, which states that the acceleration (a) of an object is directly proportional to the net force (F) acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (m): a = F/m. In the provided information, the total mass of the system (professor, cart, and equipment) is 65.0 kg + 12.0 kg + 7.0 kg = 84.0 kg. Subtracting the opposing forces (e.g., friction), which total 24.0 N, from the 150 N forward force exerted by the professor yields a net force of 126.0 N previously.
However, for 2N of applied force, the net force would be the applied force minus friction, so F_net = 2N - 24N, which would result in a negative net force indicating that the cart would not accelerate in the intended direction. In this scenario, the force of friction is greater than the applied force, suggesting that the cart would instead decelerate. Therefore, predicting acceleration with a 2N force is not meaningful as the cart will not accelerate forward; instead, it might illustrate a scenario of deceleration.