Final answer:
The force required for an object whose acceleration increases to 5 m/s², given an initial force of 20 N caused an acceleration of 2 m/s², is 50 Newtons.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a moving object, force is directly proportional to the object's acceleration according to Newton's second law of motion. Given that a force of 20 N results in an acceleration of 2 m/s², and using the formula F = ma where F is force, m is mass, and a is acceleration, we can find the relationship between force and acceleration. Therefore, if the acceleration increases to 5 m/s², the force can be found by setting up a proportion:
20 N / 2 m/s² = F/ 5 m/s²
From this proportion, the force F can be calculated as:
F = (20 N * 5 m/s²) / 2 m/s² = 50 N
So, the force required when the acceleration is 5 m/s² is 50 Newtons.