Final answer:
The 0.5 kg object will accelerate at a rate of 72 m/s² when a 36 N force is applied to it, according to Newton's second law of motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceleration of a 0.5 kg object when a 36 N force is applied to it can be calculated using 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). In this case, the applied force (F) is 36 N, and the mass (m) is 0.5 kg. To find the acceleration (a), we rearrange the formula to a = F / m. Therefore, the acceleration would be a = 36 N / 0.5 kg = 72 m/s². The correct answer is 72 m/s², which indicates how quickly the object will accelerate given the applied force.