Final answer:
The acceleration of the box can be calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration is directly proportional to the net external force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. Using the given forces and mass, the acceleration is 3.0 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The acceleration of an object can be calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration is directly proportional to the net external force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. The equation is given as:
F = ma
In this case, the net external force is the sum of the two forces applied to the box. So, we can calculate the acceleration using:
F et = 10.0 N + 5.0 N = 15.0 N
a = F net/m = 15.0 N / 5.0 kg = 3.0 m/s²
Therefore, the acceleration of the box is 3.0 m/s² (option b).