Final answer:
The correct answer to the question is A) 1.0 m/s², which is calculated by subtracting the frictional force from the applied force to find the net force, and then dividing by the mass of the object using Newton's second law.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a 2.0 kg mass is pulled across a horizontal surface by a 3.0 N force and a 1.0 N frictional force acts against it, the net force on the mass is the difference between these two forces. To calculate the resulting acceleration, use Newton's second law, which states that the acceleration of an object is equal to the net force acting upon it divided by the object's mass (a = F_net / m).
In this case, the net force (F_net) is 3.0 N - 1.0 N = 2.0 N. Using the formula, the acceleration (a) would be:
a = F_net / m = 2.0 N / 2.0 kg = 1.0 m/s².
Therefore, the correct answer is A) 1.0 m/s².